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THE
CELTIC MAGAZINE:
l l
JV JBflttthlB fkriobkal
DEVOTED TO THE
LITERATURE, HISTORY, ANTIQUITIES,
FOLK LORE, TRADITIONS,
AND THE
SOCIAL AND MATERIAL INTERESTS OF THE CELT
AT HOME AND ABROAD.
CONDUCTED BY
ALEXANDER MACKENZIE,
Author of the "History of the Clan Mackenzie" "The Prophecies of the Brahan Seer,'
" Historical Tales and Legends of the Highlands" Ac,
o
INVERNESS : A. & W. MACKENZIE, 10 BRIDGE STBEET.
EDINBURGH : MACLAUCHLAN & STEWART.
GLASGOW : WILLIAM LOVE.
1879.
All Rights Reserved.
PRINTED AT THE ADVERTISER OFFICE, 11 BANK STREET. INVERNESS
DA
7 SO
LIBRARY
728811
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO
CONTENTS,
PAGE.
History of the Clan Mackenzie ... 1, 41, 81, 121, 161, 201, 249, 291, 337, 409 and 448
Federation of Celtic Societies. By Machaon 10
Fairies in the Highlands. By Torquil 13
Gaelic and Cornish. By the Rev. Donald Masson, M.A., M.D 19
Haco, the Dane. By J. E. Muddock 23, 49, and 105
William, Lord Crechtoun. By General A. Stewart-Allan 30
Directory of Celtic Societies 35
Teaching Gaelic in Schools. By Wm. Jolly, H.M.I. S. 39
Mary Morrison A Tale. By Loda 56 and 91
Gaelic Names and Uses of Trees, Shrubs, and Plants. By C. Fergusson 68, 134, and 173
Prince Charles at Culloden. By the Very Rev. Jerome Vaughan, O.S.B 75
Transactions of the Gaelic Society Review 77
Our Gaelic Bible. By the Rev. Donald Masson, M.A., M.D.
99, 141, 190, 210, 259, 302, and 347
First Highland Parliament Meeting in Glasgow ... 115
A Legend of Argyll By M. A. Rose 129
Remnants of Gaelic Poetry, III. By Seanachaidh 146
The Caledonian Bank Disaster. By the Editor 148
The Gaelic Society of Inverness 153
The Glenalmond Highlanders in the Kilt 154
Dr Charles Mackay's Gaelic Etymology A Review. By the Rev. A. D. Mackenzie 155
Captain Fraser of Knockie's Melodies Unpublished Letters by Sir Walter Scott
and John Thomson 181
Ewen Morrison's Raid on Harris. By Maclain ..: 183
Genealogical Tables of the Mackenzies. By Major Mackenzie, Findon A Review 197
Genealogical Notes and Queries Cuthberts of Castlehill, &c 187 and 227
Rev. Mr Fraser, Kilmorack 270
Rosses of Invercharron ' 271 and 386
Chiefs of the Mathesons 272
Cuthberts of Drakies 273
Captain Humberston-Mackenzie, Highland Ancestry of the Right Honour-
able W. E. Gladstone, M. P., &c., &c 307
Macbean of Kinchyle, Macdonald of Aberarder, &c., &c 359
Mackenzies of Applecross and Chisholras of Teawig 389
Caithness Campbells, Forbeses of Craigivar, &c 467
" Educational News ' ? on Teaching Gaelic in Highland Schools 188
Buried Gaelic Songs. By the Rev. A. Maclean Sinclair 195
Ian Mactavish A Legend. By M. A. Rose 217
Dun vegan Castle- A Gaelic Poem with Notes. By Rev. A. Macgregor, M.A. ... 232
Rose and Thistle A Review 237
Highland and Island Scenery. By the Rev. A. Macgregor, M.A 241 and 281
Donald Macdougall Presentation of Bust 270
Duntulm Castle A Terrible Revenge. By M. A. Rose 274
Literary Review ... 278
The Disarming Act and the Kilt 289
John Mackay A Tale. By the late Sir Thomas Dick Lauder, Bart. ... 311 and 328
Proposed Visit to our Transatlantic Cousins 316
RemnantsofGaelicPoetry.IV. By Seanachaidh 317
Memoir of a Highland Officer The late Major-General Mackenzie of Gruinard.
By the Editor 321
iv. Contents.
PAGE.
Jamie Gow, the Piper A Legend. By Maolain 355
Prince Charles Edward after Culloden. By the Rev. Allan Sinclair 361
* The Marquis of Lome and Glencoe ... 367
A Philological Ramble through a Highland Glen. By the Rev. A. Macgregor Rose 37C
The Clandonald of Keppoch. By D. C. Macpherson 368 and 424
Professor Blackie on the Social Economy of the Highlands 391
Mary Mackellar at Sea 399
Morning in the Highlands. By the Rev. Donald Masson, M.A., M.D 401
The Editor's Tour to Canada 416
Ancient Possessors and Writs of Culloden. By Charles Fraser-Mackintosh, M.P. 426
William Grant of Glen-Urquhart A Legend. By M. A. Rose 431 and 453
Inverness New Town Hall and the Highland Clans 437
Early Scenes of Flora Macdonald's Life, &c. By the Rev. A. Macgregor, M.A. 441
Colin Chisholm in the Forests ... ... ... 468
Literary Review ... ... ... ... 474
Folk-Lore on Wells. By Mac Iain 475
CORRESPONDENCE.
Dunvegan Castle. By N. Micleod ... ... 277
Mackenzies of Hilton. By Colin Chisholm 306
Stewart's Sketches of the Highlanders. By John Mackay 358
The Scottish Bible Society's 8vo. Edition of the Gaelic Bible Letters by Thomas
Maclauchlan, LL.D. ; The Rev. Alexander Cameron ; The Rev. Donald
Masson, M.A., M.D.; The Rev. Archibald Clerk, LL.D., &c. 381, 417, and 461
POETRY.
The Heather of Scotia. By Alex. Logan ... ... ... ... 9
Lochaber's Lone Star. By William AUaa 22
A Highland Exile's Death. By the Rev. A. Macgregor Rose 54
An Seillean agus a Chuileag. By N. Macleod 65
Et Ego in Arcadia Fui. Wm. A. Sim 90
Brahan of Steeds, translated. By Finlay Macrae ... 103
Tullochard. By William Allan ... 119
War Speech of a Highland Chief. By Alex. Logan 133
Rest in the Fight. By William Allan 159
The Highland Bride. By William Allan 172
The Crofter's Lament. By William Allan 226
The Kilt and Bonnet Blue. By Alex. Logan 236
My Hielan' Hame. By Alex. Logan 269
The Death of Norman Macleed. By Mary Mackellar 290
Returned. By Mary J. Maccoll 327
Ronald Macgregor. By William Allan 346
The Highland Sportsman's Song. By William Allan 380
Prince Charlie's Farewell to Scotland. By William Allan 436
GAELIC SONGS, WITH MUSIC.
Ho-ro mo Nigh'n Donn Bhoidheach 40
Fear an Leadain Thlaith 80
Mo Nighean Dubh tha Boidheach Dubh 120
OranGaoil 160
Oran do Shir Coinneach Ghearrloch 200
Mo Nighueag gheal Og ... 239
Main Chreag-a'-Gharaidh 320
Tuireadh nan Eilthirach 360
Horo cha bhi mi ga d' chaoidh ni's mo ... 400
Soraidh Slan le Fiunaraidh 440
Seinn och ho ro Seinn 476
THE
CELTIC MAGAZINE.
No. XXXVII. NOVEMBER 1878. VOL. IV.
HISTORY OF THE CLAN MACKENZIE,
WITH GENEALOGIES OF THE PRINCIPAL FAMILIES.
BY THE EDITOR.
[CONTINUED.]
XV. KENNETH, third EARL OF SEAFORTH, was born at Brahan Castle
in 1635, and when he arrived at five or six years of age, his father placed
him under the care of the Rev. Earquhar MacRa, then minister of Kintail
and constable of Islandonan Castle, who kept a seminary in his house
attended by the sons of the neighbouring gentlemen who kept young Sea-
forth company.* He followed the example of his father in his latter days,
became entirely identified with the fate of Charles II., and devoted him-
self unremittingly to the services of that monarch during his exile. Earl
Kenneth, from his great stature, was known among the Highlanders as
Coinneach MOT. On the King's arrival at Garmouth in June 1650 his
reception throughout the whole of Scotland was of a most cheering
character, but the Highlanders, who had always favoured the Stuarts,
were particularly joyous on the return of their exiled king. After
the defeat of the Scotch army by Cromwell at Dunbar a defeat
brought about entirely by the interference of the Committee of Estates
and Kirk with the duties of those who had charge of the forces, and whose
plans, were they allowed to carry them out, would have saved our country
from the first real defeat Scotland ever received at the hands of an
enemy the King determined to find his way north and throw himself
on the patriotism and loyalty of his Highland subjects. He was, how-
ever, captured and taken back to Perth, and afterwards to Edinburgh, by
tiie Committee of Estates, on whom his attempted escape to the High-
lands " produced a salutary effect," when they began to treat him with
more respect, admitting him to their deliberations. A considerable num-
* The author of the Ardiatoul MS. writing on this subject, says : "This might be
thought a preposterous and wrong way to educate a nobleman, but they who would con-
sider where the most of his interests lay, and how he was among his people, followers,
and dependants, on which the family was still valued, perhaps will not think so, for by
this the young lord had several advantages ; first, by the wholesome, though not delicate
or too palatable diet he prescribed to him. and used him with, he began to have a
wholesome complexion, so nimble and strong, that he was able to endure stress and
fatigue, labour and travel, which proved very useful to him in his after life ; secondly,
A
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
"her of the Highlanders were now up in arms to support the King ; but
the Committee having Charles in their power, induced him to write letters
to the Highland duet's desiring them to lay down their arms. This they
refused to do, and to enforce the King's orders a regiment, under Sir John
Brown, was despatched to the North, but they were surprised and de-
feated on the night of the 21st October by Sir David Ogilvy of Airley.
On learning this intelligence, General Leslie hastened north with a force
of 3000 cavalry. General Middleton, who had joined the King's friends
in the North, and who was then at Forfar, hearing of Leslie's advaixv,
sent him a letter enclosing a copy of "a bond and oath of engagement,
which had been entered into by Huntly, Athole, the Earl of Seaforth, and
other leading Highland chiefs, by which they had pledged themsehvs
on oath, to join firmly and faithfully together, and ' neither for 1'eur,
threatening, allurement, nor advantage, to relinquish the cause of religion,
of the king, and of the kingdom, nor to lay down their arms Avithout a
general consent ; and as the best undertakings did not escape censure and
malice, they promised and swore, for the satisfaction of all reasonable
persons, that they would maintain the true religion, as then established
in Scotland, the National Covenant and the Solemn League and Covenant,
and defend the person of the King, his prerogative, greatness, and autho-
rity, and the privileges of parliament, and the freedom of the subject'"
Middleton pointed out that the only object of himself and his friends was
to unite Scotsmen in defence of their common rights, and that, as would
be seen from this bond, the grounds on which they entered into asso-
ciation were exactly the same as those professed by Leslie himself. Con-
sidering all these circumstances, and seeing that the independence of Scot-
land was at stake, all Scotsmen should join for the preservation of their
liberties. Middleton proposed to join Leslie, to place himself under his
command, and expressed a hope that he would not shed the blood of his
countrymen or force them to shed the blood of their brethren in. self-de-
fence. These communications ended in a treaty between Leslie and the
leading Royalists on the 4th November at Strathbogie, by which Middle-
ton and his followers received an indemnity, and laid down their arms.*
he did not only learn the language but became thoroughly acquainted with, and learned
the genius of, his seveial tribes or clans of hia Highlanders, so that after wauls he was
reputed to be the fittest chief or chieftain of all superiors in the Highlands and Isles of
Scotland ; and thirdly, the early impressions of being among them, and acquaint with
the bounds, made him delight and take pleasure to be often among them and to know
their circumstances, which indeed was his interest and part of their happiness, so that it
was better to give him that fiiat step of education than that which would make him a
stranger at home, both as to his people, estate, and condition ; but when he was taken
from Mr Farquhar to a public school, he gave great evidence of his abilities and inclina-
tion for learning, and being sent in the year 1051 to the King's College at Aberdeen,
under the discipline of Mr Patrick Sandylands, before he was well settled or made any
progress in bis studies, King Charles II., after his army had been defeated at Dunbar
the year before, beingtheu at Stirling recruiting and making up his army, with which he
was resolvid to march into England, the young laird was called home in his father's
absence, who was left in Holland (as already described), to raise his men for the King's
service, and so went straight to Kiutail with the particular persons of his name, viz., the
Lairds of Pluscardy and Lochsline, his uncles ; young Tarbat, Rory of Davochmaluak,
Kenneth of Coul, Hector of Fairburn, and several others, but the Kintail men, when,
called upon, made a demur and declined to rise with him, because he was but a child,
and that his father, their master, was in life, without whom they would not move, since
the King, if he had use for him and for his followers, Blight easily bring him home."
* Balfour, vol. iv., p. 129. Highland Clans, p. 285.
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 3
In 1651, after the disastrous battle of Worcester, in which Charles
was completely defeated by Cromwell, and at which we find Thomas Mac-
kenzie of Pluscardine, as one of the Colonels of foot for Inverness and
Ross, as also Alexander Cam Mackenzie, fourth son of Alexander, fifth of
Gairloch, James fled to the Continent, and, after many severe hardships
and narrow escapes, he ultimately found refuge in France, where, and in
Flanders, lie continued to reside, often in great distress and want, until
the Restoration, in May 16GO, when he returned to England, we are told,
" indolent, selfish, unfeeling, faithless, ungrateful, and insensible to shame
or reproach." The Earl of Cromarty informs us that subsequent to the
treaty agreed to between Middleton and Leslie at Strathbogie, " Seaforth
joined the King at Stirling. After the fatal battle of "Worcester he con-
tinued a close prisoner till the Restoration of Charles." He was excepted
from Oliver Cromwell's Act of Grace and Pardon in 1664, and his estate
was forfeited without any provision being allowed out of it for his lady
and family. He supported the cause of the King as long as there Avas an
opportunity of fighting for it in the field, and when forced to submit to
the opposing powers of Cromwell and the Commonwealth, he was com-
mitted to prison, where, with " much firmness of mind and nobility of
soul," he endured a tedious captivity for many years, until Charles II. was
recalled, when his old and faithful friend Seaforth was released, and became
a favourite at his licentious and profligate Court. During the remainder of
his life little or nothing of any importance is known regarding him, except
that he lived in the favour and merited smiles of his sovereign, in undis-
puted possession and enjoyment of the extensive estates and honours of
his ancestors, which, through his faithful adherence to the House of
Stuart, had been nearly overwhelmed and lost during the exile of the
second Charles and his own captivity. Regarding the state of matters
then, the Laird of Applecross, a contemporary writer, says that the
" rebels, possessing the authority, oppressed all the loyal subjects, and
him with the first, his estate was overburthened to its destruction, but
nothing could deter him so as to bring him to forsake his King or his
duty. Whenever any was in the field for him, he was one, seconding
that falling cause with all his power, and when he was not in the field
against the enemy, he was in the prison by him until the restoration of
the King."
Seaforth, after he was restored to liberty, received a commission of the
Sheriffship of Ross on the 23d of April 1662, afterwards renewed to
himself and his eldest son, Kenneth, jointly, on 31st July 1675, and
when he had set matters right at Brahan, he visited Paris, leaving his
Countess, Isabella Mackenzie, daughter of Sir John Mackenzie of Tarbat,
and sister to the first Earl of Cromarty, in charge of his domestic affairs
in the North. During his absence occurred that incident, already so
well-known to the reader that it is unnecessary to reproduce it here, which,
it is said, ended in the Brahan Seer uttering the famous and remarkable
prediction regarding the fate of the family of Seaforth, which has been so
literally fulfilled.*
It appears from the following that a coolness existed between
* For this Prophecy and its wonderful fulfilment, see " The Prophecies of the
Brahaa Seer," by Alex. Mackenzie. A. & W. Mackenzie, Inverness, 1878.
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
the Mackenzies and the Munros : " At Edinburgh, the 23d day of
January, 1<>'>1 years, it is condescended and agreed as follows, that
is to say, We, Kenneth, Earl of Seaforth, and John Munro, younger
of Fowlis, taking to our consideration how prejudicial it hath been
to both our families that there hath not been of a long time, so
good a correspondence betwixt us as was befitting men of that con-
junction and neighbourhood, and of what advantage it will be to us,
to live in good correspondence and confederacy one with another, and to
maintain and concur for the weal of either. For the which causes, We, the
said noble Lord and John Munro, younger of Fowlis, taking burthen on us
for our friends, kinsmen, and all others whom we may stop or let, do, by
these presents, bind and oblige us and our heirs faithfully upon our
honours to maintain and concur with each other, for the good of botli and
our foresaids, and to prevent as much as in us lies, what may be to the
prejudice of either of us, or of any in whom either of us maybe concerned
in all time coming, as witness these presents subscribed by us the place,
day, month, and year, above written and mentioned, before these witn
Thomas Mackenzie of Pluscardine, Colin Mackenzie of Redcastle, Lieut-
Colonel Alex. Munro, and Major Alex. Munro, Commissar of Stirling,
Sic Siil'<:ril>itt(r, Seafort, John Munro."
His Lordship's heir and successor, Kenneth, Lord Kintail, was " un-
doubted Patron of the Paraich Kirk and Parochin of Inverness," for in
consideration of Robert Robertson, Burgess of Inverness, paying a certain
sum for the teind sheaves and parsonage teinds of all and sundrie these 50
acres and a-half of land of the territerie and burgage lands of the burgh of In-
verness, "therefore will ye us, the said Kenneth, Lord Kintail, with consent
foresaid, as having right in manner above-written and as the said Ken-
neth, Marl "I' Seaforth, as taking the full burden in and upon us for the
said Kenneth, Lord Kintail, our son, to the effect after-rehearsed, to have
sold, annailzed, and dispoued, A;c., &c., and we, the said Kenneth, Lord
Kintail, as principale, and the said Kenneth, Earl of Seaforth, our father,
as cautioneer, iKrc., &c.*
Kenneth was married early in life, as already stated, to Isabel, daughter
of Sir John Mackenzie of Tarbat, father of the first Earl of Cromarty,
by whom he had issue, first, Kenneth Og, who succeeded him ; second,
John Mackenzie of Assynt, -who had a son, Alexander, by Sibella,
daughter of Alexander Mackenzie, third of Applecross, by whom he had
one son, Kenneth, who, in 1723, died without issue ; and third, Colonel
Alexander Mackenzie, also designed of Assynt, and of whom the line of
the last Lord Seaforth, Francis Humberstone Mackenzie ; another son,
1 1 ugh, died young. Of four daughters, Margaret married James, second Lord
Duil'us ; Ann died unmarried ; Isabel, first married Roderick Macleod of
Macleod, and secondly, Sir Duncan Campbell of Lochnell ; and Mary
married Alexander Macdonald of Glengarry. This, the third Earl died in
December 16 78, and was succeeded by his eldestson.
XVI. KENNETH, fourth EARL OF SEAFORTH and fifth LORD MACKENZIE
OF KIXTAIL, who was by the Highlanders called Coinneach Og, to distin-
* Disposition recorded in the Commissary Court Books of In vernens, dated at
Fortrose, 17th Jane 1C98.
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
guish him from his father, and he at an early age discovered the benefits of
the faithful adherence of his father to the fortunes of Charles II. In 1678
we find his name among those chiefs who, by a proclamation issued on the
10th October of that year, were called upon to give bond and caution for
the security of the peace and quiet of the Highlands, which the leaders of
the clans were bound to give, not only for themselves but for all of their
name descended from their house. Notwithstanding all the laws and
orders hitherto passed, the inhabitants and broken men in the Highlands
were " inured and accustomed to liberty and licentiousness " during the
late troubles and " still presumed to sorn, steal, oppress, and comit other
violences and disorders." The great chiefs were commanded to appear in
Edinburgh on the last Tuesday of February 1G79, and yearly thereafter on
the second Thursday of July, to give security, and to receive instructions
as to the peace of the Highlands. . To prevent any excuse for non-attend-
ance, they were declared free from caption for debt or otherwise while
journeying to and from Edinburgh, and other means were to be taken which
should be thought necessary or expedient until the Highlands would be
finally quieted, and " all these wicked, broken, and disorderly men utterly
rooted out and extirpated." A second proclamation was issued, in which
the lesser barons heads of the several branches of clans whose names
are given, were to go to Inverlochy by the 20th of November following,
as they are, by reason of their mean condition, not able to come in to
Edinburgh and find caution, and there to give in bonds and caution for
themselves, their men tenants, servants, and indwellers upon their lands,
and all of their name descended of their family, to the Earl of Caithness,
Sir James Campbell of Lawers, James Menzies of Culdares, or any two of
them. These lists are most interesting, showing, as they do, the chiefs who
were considered the great and lesser chiefs in those days. There are four
Mackenzies in the former but none in the latter.*
Kenneth was served heir male to his great-grandfather, Lord Mackenzie
of Kintail, in the lands in the Lordship of Ardmeanach and Earldom of
Eoss, on the 1st March 1681; was made a member of the Privy Council
by James II. on his accession to the throne in 1685 ; and chosen a Com-
panion of the most noble Order of the Thistle, on the revival of that
ancient order in 1687. The year after the Revolution, which finally and
for ever lost the British throne to the House of Stuart, Seaforth accom-
panied his royal master to France, but when that unfortunate Prince re-
turned to Ireland in the following year to make a final effort for the re-
covery of his kingdom, he was accompanied by Earl Kenneth. Here he
took part in the siege of Londonderry and other engagements, and as an
expression of gratitude, James created him Marquis of Seaforth, under
which dignity he repeatedly appears in different legal documents. This
well-meant and well-deserved honour canie too late in the falling fortunes
and declining powers of the ex-sovereign, and does little more than mark, the
sinkingmonarch's testimonial and confirmation of the steady adherence of the
chiefs of Clan Kenneth to the cause of the Stuarts. In Dundee's letter to
" the Laird of Macleod," dated "Moy, June 23, 1689,"t in. which he details
* For full lists, see Antiquarian Notes, pp. 184 and 187.
t About this time Viscount Tarbat boasted to General Mackenzie of his great in-
fluence with his countrymen, especially the Clan Mackenzie, and assured him "that
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
his pn>spi'i-is, and gives a list of those who arc to join him, he says, " My
Lord Seaibrth will be in a few dayes from Ireland to raise his men for the
King's service," but the fatal shot which closed the career of that brilliant
star and champion of the Stuart dynasty at Killiecrankie, arrested the
pro-Tess of the family of Seaforth in the fair track to all the honours
which a grateftd dynasty could bestow; nor was this powerful family
singular in this respect seeing its flattering prospects withered at, per-
haps, a fortunate moment for the prosperity of the British Empire.
Jealousies have now passed away on that subject, and it is not our busi-
ness here to discuss, or confound the principles of contending loyalties.
To check the proceedings of the Clan. Mackay placed a garrison of a
hundred Mackays in Brahan Castle, the principal seat of the Earl of Sea-
forth, and an equal number of Bosses in Castle Leod, the mansion of Vis-
count Tarbat, both places of strength, and advantageously situated for
watching the movements of the Jacobite Mackenzies.*
Earl Kenneth seems to have left Ireland immediately after the Battle
of the Boyne was fought and lost, and to have returned to the Highlands.
The greater part of the North was hostile to the Government at the time,
and General Mackay found himself obliged to march north, with all pos-
sible haste, before a general rising could take place under Buchan, who now
commanded the Highlanders who stood out for King James. Mackay ar-
rived within four hours' march of Inverness before Buchan knew of his
approach, who was then at that place " waiting for the Earl of Seaforth's and
other Highlanders whom he expected to join him in attacking the town."
Hearing of the enemies proximity he at once retreated, crossed the river
Ness, and retired along the north side of the Beauly Firth, through the
Black Isle. In this predicament, Seaforth, fearing the consequences likely
to result to himself personally from the part he had acted throughout, sent
two of his friends to Mackay with offers of submission and of whatever
securities might be required for his good behaviour in future, informing
him that although he was bound to appear on the side of King James,
he never entertained any design of molesting the Government forces or
of joining Buchan in his attack on Inverness. The General replied that
he could accept no other security than the surrender of his person, and
conjured him to comply, as he valued his own safety and the preservation
of his family and people, assuring him that in the case of 'surrender he
should be detained in civil custody in Inverness, and treated with the
respect due to his rank, until the will of the Government should be made
known. Next day his mother, the Countess Dowager of Seaforth, and
Sir Alexander Mackenzie of Coul, went and pleaded with Mackay for a miti-
gation of the terms proposed, but finding the General inflexible, they
then informed him that Seaforth would accede to any conditions
agreed upon between them and Mackay. It was stipulated at this in-
terview, that Seaforth should deliver himself up to be kept a prisoner
though Seaforth should come to his own country and among bis friends, he (Tarbat)
would overturn in eight days more than the Earl could advance in six weeks ; yet he
proved as backward as Seaforth or any other of the Clan. And though liedcastle, Coul,
and others of the name of Mackenzie came, they fell not on final methods, but protested
a great deal of affection for the cause." Malay's Memoirs, pp. 25 and 237.
* Life of General Mackay, by John Mackay of Kockfield, pp. 36-37.
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
in Inverness, until the Privy Council decided as to his ultimate disposal.
"With the view to conceal this step on the part of the Earl from the Clan
and his other Jacobite friends, it was agreed that he should allow himself
to be seized at one of his seats as if he were taken by surprise, by a party of
horse under Major Mackay. He, however, disappointed the party sent out
to seize him, in excuse of which, he and his mother, in letters to Mackay,
pleaded the delicate state of his health, which, they urged, would suffer
from imprisonment. The Earl can hardly be blamed for declining to
place himself absolutely at the disposal of such a body as the Privy
Council of Scotland then was many of whom would not hesitate to have
sacrificed him, if by so doing they saw a chance of obtaining a share of
his extensive estates.
Mackay became so irritated at the deception practised upon him
that he resolved to treat the Earl's vassals " with all the rigour of military
execution," and sent him word that if he did not surrender forthwith
according to promise, he should carry out his instructions from the
Privy Council, enter his country with fire and sword, and seize all pro-
perty belonging to himself or to his vassals as lawful prize ; and, lest
Seaforth should suspect that he had no intention of executing his terrible
threat, he immediately ordered three Dutch Regiments from Aberdeen to
Inverness, and decided upon leading a competent body of horse and foot
in person from the garrison at Inverness, to take possession of Brahan
Castle. He, at the same time, wrote instructing the Earl of Sutherland,
Lord Reay, and the Laird of Balnagown, to send 1000 of their men, under
Major Wishart, an experienced officer acquainted with the country, to
quarter in the more remote districts of the Seaforth estates, should that
extreme step become necessary. Having, however, a friendly disposition
towards the followers of Seaforth, on account of their being " all Protes-
tants and none of the most dangerous enemies," and being more anxious
to get hold of the EarFs person than to ruin his friends, he caused in-
formation of his intentions to be sent to Seaforth's camp by some of his
own party, as if from a feeling of friendship for him, the result being that,
contrary to Mackay 's expectations, Seaforth surrendered himself thus
relieving him from a disagreeable duty,* and he was committed
prisoner to the Castle of Inverness. Writing to the Privy Council about
the state of the disaffected chiefs at the time, Mackay says, "I believe it
shall fare so with the Earl of Seaforth, that is, that he shall haply submit
when his country is ruined and spoyled, which is the character of a true
Scotsman, wyse behinde the liand.\ By warrant, dated 7th October 1690,
the Privy Council directed Mackay " to transport the person of Kenneth,
Earl of Seaforth, with safety from Inverness to Edinburgh, in such way
and manner as he should think fit." This was done, and on the 6th
of November following, he was confined a prisoner within the Castle of
Edinburgh, but, little more than a year afterwards, was liberated on the
* Though the General " was not immediately connected with the Seaforth family
himself, some of his near relatives were, both by the ties of kindred and of ancient
friendship. For these, and other reasons, it may be conceived what joy and thankful-
ness to Providence he felt for the result of this affair, which at once relieved him from
a distressing dilemma, and promised to put a speedy period to his labours in Scotland."
Mackay's Life of General Mackay.
t Letters to the Privy Council, dated 1st September 1690.
8 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
7tli January 1692, on finding caution to appear when called upon, and on
condition that he would not go ten miles beyond Kdinburgh. J le appears IK it
to have kept within these conditions, for he is shortly afterwards again in
prison, but almost immediately makes his escape ; is again apprehended
on the 7th of May, the same year, at 1'encaitland, and again kept coniined
in the Castle of Inverness, from which he is ultimately finally liberated on
giving satisfactory security for his peaceable behaviour.*
The following is the order for his release : " William R., Right trusty
and right-well-beloved Councillors, &c., we greet you well. "Whereas we
are informed that Kenneth, Earl of Seaforth, did surrender himself
prisoner to the commander of our garrison at Inverness, and has thrown
himself on our Royal mercy ; it is our will and pleasure, and we hereby
authorise and require you to set the said Earl of Seaforth at liberty, upon
his finding bail and security to live peaceably under our Government and
to compear before you when called. And that you order our Advocate
not to insist in the process of treason waged against him, until our further
pleasure be know therein. For doing whereof this shall be your warrant,
so we bid you heartily farewell. Given at our Court at Kensington, the
first day of March 1696-7, and of our reign the eighth year. By his
Majesty's command. (Signed), "TCLLIBARDIXE."
During the remaining years of his life Seaforth appears to have lived
mainly in France. His necessary absence from his country during the
protraction of political irritation and, indeed, the exhausted state of his
paternal revenues, would have rendered his residence abroad highly ex-
pedient, and we find accordingly discharges for feu-duties granted, viz. :
" I, Maister Alexander Mackenzie, lawful brother to the Marquis of Sea-
forth, grants me to have received from John Mathesone, all and hail the
somme of seaven hundred and twentie merks Scots money, and that in
complete payment of his duties and of the lands of both the Fernacks and
Achnakerich, payable Martimass ninety (1690), dated 22d November
1694;" and another by "Isabel, Countess Dowager of Seaforth, in 1696,
tested by ' Rorie Mackenzie, servitor to the Marquis of Seaforth.'" There
is another original discharge by ' ' me, Isabel, Countess Dowager of Sea-
forth, Lady Superior of the grounds, lands, and oyes under-written," to
Kenneth Mackenzie of Achterdonell, dated at Fortrose, 15th November
1697. Signed, "Isobell Seaforth. "t All this time it may be presumed
Earl Kenneth was in retirement, and taking no personal part in the man-
agement of his estates for the remainder of his life.
His clansmen, however, seem to have been determined to protect his
interest as much as lay in their power. A certain Sir John Dempster of
Pitliver had advanced a large sum of money to Seaforth and his mother,
the Countess Dowager, and obtained a decrcet of Parliament to have
the money refunded to him. The cash was not forthcoming, and Sir
John obtained letters of horning and arrestment against the Earl and his
mother, and employed several officers to execute them, but they returned the
letters unexecuted, not finding notum accessum in the Earl's country, and
they refused altogether to undertake the due execution of them, unless
* History of the Highland Clans, Records of the Priyy Council, and Mackay's
Memoirs.
t Allangrange Service, on which occasion the originals were produced.
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
they were assisted by some of the King's forces in the district. Sir John
petitioned for this, and humbly craved their Lordships to allow him
" a competent assistance of his Majesty's forces at Fort- William, Inverness,
or where they are lying adjacent to the places where the said diligence is
to be put in execution to siipport and protect the messengers " in the due
execution of the legal diligence against the Earl and his mother, " by horn-
ing, poinding, arrestment, orotherways/'aiid to recommend to the Governor
at Fort- William or the commander of the forces at Inverness, to grant a
suitable force for the purpose. The Lords of the Privy Council, having
considered the petition, recommended Sir Thomas Livingstone, commander-
in-chief of his Majesty's forces, to order some of these officers already men-
tioned, to furnish the petition "with competent parties of his Majesty's
forces" to support and protect the messengers in the due execution of the
"legal diligence upon the said decreet of Parliament."* We have not
learned the result, but it is not likely to have proved very profitable to
Sir John Dempster.
Kenneth married Lady Frances Herbert, daughter of William, Marquis
of Powis, an English nobleman, by whom he had issue, one son, William,
and a daughter, Mary, who married John Careyl, Esq. He died at Paris
in 1701, and was succeeded by his only son.
(To be Continued.)
THE HEATHER OF SCOTIA.
A song for the heather, the glory -crown'd heather,
The pride of old Scotia, the land of the brave !
To its praise let us blend our glad voices together,
It smiles on the free but it knows not the slave !
In beauty it blooms upon liberty's track,
Where valour and virtue hath chosen a home,
And where our forefathers triumphant rolled back
The tide of invasion, the legions of Rome !
A song for the heather, the glory-crown'd heather, &c.
Among it our light-hearted maidens so sweet,
With lovers whose bosoms are faithful and bold,
To soul-stirring numbers shake nimbly the feet,
Pour'd forth by the blythe sounding warpipe of old !
A song for the heather, the glory-crown'd heather, &c.
High o'er it the bright star of peace, fraught with fame,
A rich, golden light sheds on mountain and glen ;
But sound the proud slogan in freedom's lov'd name,
And teem will the heather with noble-soul'd men !
A song for the heather, the glory-crown'd heather, &c.
The Scot though he roams on earth's loveliest shore,
This wish, ever-cherished, his manly breast fills,
Oh ! when will kind Fate to its birth-place restore,
A heart throbbing wild for its dear heather hills ?
A song for the heather, the glory-crown'd heather, &c.
EDINBURGH. ALEX. LOGAN.
* For this document see "Antiquarian Notes," pp. 118-119.
10 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
FEDEKATIOX OF CELTIC SOCIETIES.
THE recent movement in favour of the union of all Highland Societies
owes its origin to two powerful desires that have arisen in the minds of
Highland patriots. First there is an anxiety to ameliorate the condition
of the people, secondly, there is a wish for better political organisation.
Are these aims laudable ? Are the objects sought of pressing importance?
Are the means fixed upon adequate to the ends in view ? "What is the
ultimate meaning and what would be the probable issue of the national
federation desiderated ? These are the questions which offer themselves
to many at this juncture. To some this new patriotic cry is vanity and
vexation of spirit. Things, we are told, are pretty well as they are, or
they are so bad that there is no means of mending them ; and there
is no alternative but to let events take their swing, or to move off, bag
and baggage, to some Utopia rendered charming by the kindly but decep-
tive haze that softens into beauty the rough places far away. So speak
our oracles, and so they answer each other. When our authorities are
contradictory the only resource left for us, if we would not walk over the
cliffs, is to trust to the light of our own reason. Well, then, what are the
facts of the case ? The industrial facts are these, that strong families are
barely able to supply themselves with the necessaries of life, that labour
is a drug in the Highland market, unremunerative whether applied to the
croft or exchanged for capital, inert and unskilled, because there is nothing
either to quicken or to develop it. The social facts are even more
distressing. Independence cowers in the chill of want. Commercial
honesty disintegrates in the long struggle with despair. ]S T eighbourliness
darkens into feud under the shadow of self interest. A piece of common
in the middle of a township forms a bone of contention for half the com-
munity. Men of the same kith and kin, members of the same clan,
fellows whose fathers would have died for each other, are here at war and
discord. Alliance, good-feeling, trust, are here supplanted by disunion,
envy, and jealousy. Misery there is indeed, but there is that which is
worse than misery evil We ask as the sons of those who held these
mountains for two thousand years how these things are so. We ask it as
the representatives of the clan system, as the offspring of those who never
betrayed a friend or cringed before a foe, as the descendents of warriors
who won for their allies their proudest honours, yet fought not for honours
or for reward, but for loyalty and for duty. Dire agencies must have
been at work to produce such terrible social deterioration, such utter com-
mercial bankruptcy. The fault is not that of the people. There is good
feeling among Highlanders from home, and there is comfort among
many of them too. Nor is nature to blame. There are fat sheep and
straight-backed cattle, and lich red trout and plenty of salmon north
of the Tay. There are as smiling corn-fields too as ever waved
between the mountains and Marathon or between Marathon and the
sea. The passes of the Grampians are not steeper than the passes of
Athos ; and Skye and Mull and Tyree are not more rocky than the
" foaming Cyclades." Freedom and reason have more to do with the
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. ll
social weal than the contour of mountains. Freedom forsook the Greeks
and straightway " all except their sun was set." Eoman policy disin-
tregated the political coherence of the East. What is destroying High-
land union? Who is Pontius Pilate here? What are the decrees of
Ccesar Augustus ? Let him who will look around hitn and see. English
law owes much to the Roman forum ; has the lesson of provincial govern-
ment been learned so faithfully too ? When Pilate wants to do the Celts
a favour does his clemency extend only to Tonal MacTavish, and does the
favour consist in a slice of common which Pilate has no more right to
than Tonal himself] And if this act of kindness foments social strife, is
it not really a very cunning and effective piece of policy 1 If Tugal too is
ready to doff his jacket when Tonal comes, is he not equally ready to
doff his bonnet when Pilate appears 1 Here then is an important task to
perform to make Tugal keep on his jacket and his bonnet too. Inde-
pendence and co-operation are the ends. Freedom and reasoning are the
means. Here are planks for the platform of the Highland Sanhedrim.
But more important than Pilate is Csesar Augustus. The wattle
sword of the clown is comparatively harmless in the hands of a giant ;
but the gleaming brand of ^Damocles is dangerous in the grasp of an
infant. Thus he who makes laws has more influence over the destinies of
a people than he who enforces them. But there are times when Heiod
himself takes up the steel ; then indeed may Israel tremble. Has such a
time appeared in our history ? Our fathers may have been stubborn and
perhaps blind in their policy a hundred years ago. We are willing to
grant they were ; yet we are not ashamed of the part they acted. Hearts
so true, devotion so absolute merited kindness, not persecution, the
favour of kings, not their ban. If the policy of the Highlanders lacked
intelligence, the policy that crushed them lacked not only intelligence but
humanity. Well, what followed the '46 ? Proscription people dared
not use their own garb, confiscation the clans' right in the soil was lost,
treachery the chiefs turned their backs on the clans, tyranny action,
thought, and feeling were suppressed, extirpation the sword proceeded
to hold what it had conqured, misery every condition of reasonable com-
fort was reft away in a word political chaos, social discord, and material
ruin. Honour to whom hououi is due. These, 0, Caesar ! are thine.
Some of the causes which then arose have since resulted in gigantic
issues. Their magnitude encompasses us on every side. They fetter and
chain us with institutions rendered awful by time, sacred by the name of law,
and terrible by the fasces of authority. What are we to do ? Our political
chains are so heavy that we cannot even shake them. Our friends from
home cannot hear their clang. Some of us are asleep, drugged with the
slave's virtue, contentment. Bankruptcy, contumely, misery, staring us in
the face, the cruel goads of Herod at our backs, the jealousy and distrust
of our race on either side what is to be done ? Shall we fling away the
claymore, and fly every man as he is able? Never ! We have shown
our patience, now is the time to show our courage. There are no fetters
so hard but steel will cut them, and reason is sharper than steel, and more
cunning in overthrowing tyranny. Time was when the voice of reason was
lost among the clangour of arms. It was so at Culloden ; we suffer the
consequences now. Let it be so no more. For a century the Highlanders
12 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
have groaned under a policy iniquitous in its principle, cruel in its ad-
ministration, and disastrous in its issues. But that policy is one which
would not have been inaugurated now although it is tolerated and even
defended with all its blunders and shortcomings. The system of Govern-
ment with which AVC have to deal is the most liberal and enlightened in
the world, and what we need is patience so as to reason out and determine
the remedies fitted to heal our infirmities, and courage so as to proclaim
fearlessly what we believe and know to be true.
Urgent then is the need for a Highland Council What we want is
something like the Comitia Plebata of the Romans a council to deliberate
in great social and political questions, to recommend reforms to the
Government, and to deal executively with Highland industry in general,
a council to devise means fitted to effect the political, social, and indus-
trial amelioration of the people.
An institution such as is here desiderated would not enly meet the
present exigencies of Highland necessity, but it would supply a practical
answer to one of the most contested questions of the day. The strife be-
tween centralization and local government is only deepening. Does not
the golden mean lie here 1 ? A council that is deliberative but not legisla-
tive reflects local needs without disintegrating national coherence.
Courage then ! The dawn of a new epoch in Highland history is
already brightening in the East. On the 20th day of this month delegates
from all the Highland Societies in the United Kingdom will meet in
Glasgow to deal with the question of Federation. Perhaps that day
will witness the establishment of the new Highland Parliament. And if
this glorious end should be accomplished Britain will be stronger, as a
giant is stronger when the fetters are struck off fiom a confined limb, the
Highlander will be happier, as every man is happier the more liberty he
has to act according to the law of his being, magnificent possibilities will
be created, momentous issues will be precipitated, and the conscience of
Highland History and the demands of universal justice will, in a measure,
be satisfied.
Courage then ! The battle we fight is the battle not of the High-
lands only ; it is the battle of Great Britain, it is the battle of freedom,
of truth, of reason, of humanity.
MACHAON.
"NETHER-LOCHABER," OF THE " INVERNESS COURIER," ON THE
HISTORY OF THE CLAN MACKENZIE. The Rev. Alexander
Stewaat, F.S.A.S., the Nether-Lochaber correspondent of the Inverness
Courier, writes in the following very flattering terms : " Allow me to
congratulate you on your History of the Mackenzies, which, when com-
pleted, will be one of the most interesting things of the kind in the lan-
guage. Your last chapter is particularly good, interesting, and well
written ; and I am glad to see you speak out like a man and a Highlander
of the right stamp in praise of the great Marquis of Montrose, certainly
one of the very noblest characters in Scottish history."
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 13
FAIKIES IN THE HIGHLANDS.
A BELIEF in fairies prevailed very much in the Highlands of old, nor at
this day is it quite obliterated. The gently rising conical hills were as-
signed them as dwellings, and these were namd sometimes Sin-shill, the
habitation of a multitude, or Sitheanan Sith, peace and dunan, a
mound. This name was derived from the practice of the Druids, who
were wont occasionally to retire to green eminences to administer justice,
establish peace, and compose differences between parties. As that vener-
able order taught a Saoghal, or world beyond the present, their followers,
when they were no more, fondly imagined that the seats where they exercised
a virtue so beneficial to mankind were still inhabited by them in their
disembodied state and though inclined still to peace (hence named Daoine-
Sithe, or men of peace), they have become not absolutely malevolent but
peevish and repining, envying mankind their more complete and substan-
tial enjoyment. They are supposed to enjoy in their subterraneous
recesses a sort of shadowy happiness a tinsel grandeur which, however,
they would willingly exchange for the more solid joys of mortality.
Those grassy eminences where they celebrate their nocturnal festivities
" by the light of the moon," are mostly by the sides of lakes and rivers,
and by the skirts of th u ,se many are still afraid to pass after sunset.
About a mile beyond the source of the Forth above Loch Con there
is a place called Coire Shithean, orthe cove of the men of peace, which is still
supposed to be a favourite place of their residence, and on the banks of
the river Beauly there are many favourite spots for fairy homes. It is
believed that if on Halloween any person alone goes round one of these
little hillocks nine times towards the left a door will open by which he
will be admitted into their subterraneous abodes. Many, it is said,
mortal men have been entertained in their secret recesses. These have
been received into the most splendid apartments and regaled with the
most sumptuous banquets and delicious wines, and associated with their
females, who surpass the daughters of men in beauty.
The seemingly happy inhabitants pass their time in festivity and in
dancing to the softest music. But unhappy is the mortal who joins in
their joys or partakes of their dainties. By this indulgence he forfeits for
ever the society of men, and is bound down irrevocably to the condition
of a Sithich, or man of peace, unless released by one possessed of the
countervailing spell. They are supposed to be peculiarly anxious to
strengthen their ranks by the acquisition of beautiful children, maidens,
and wives, and to lose no opportunity of doing so by fair or foul means,
as tradition abundantly has established, a year and a day being, however,
allowed for a return to human society. The wife of a Lothian farmer had
been snatched away by the fairies. During the year which followed she
had repeatedly appeared on Sundays in the midst of her children combing
their hair. On one of these occasions she was accosted by her husband,
when she instructed him how to rescue her at the next Hallow-eve pro-
ces ion. The farmer coned his lesson carefully, and on the appointed
d-i v proceeded to a plot of furze to await the arrival of the procession. It
ciiuie, but the ringing of the fairy bridles so confused them that the train
14 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
passed before he could recover himself sufficiently to use the intended
spell. The unearthly laughter of the abductors and the passionate lamen-
tations of his wife informed him that she was lost to him for ever. An-
other woman, as reported in Highland tradition, was conveyed in days
of yore into the secret recesses of one of these Sithe Dunan. There she
was recognised by one who had formerly been an ordinary mortal, but
who had by some fatality become associated with the Shithichean. This ac-
quaintance, still retaining some portion of human benevolence, warned
her of her danger, and counselled her, as she valued her liberty, to abstain
from eating and drinking with them for a certain space of time. She
complied with the counsel of her friend, and when the period was over
she found herself again upon earth restored to the society of mortals,
It is also said that when she examined the food which had been presented
to her, and the ornaments with which she had been decorated, all of
which had appeared so enticing to the eyo, they were found, now that the
enchantment had been removed, the most worthless rubbish.
The following legendary tale is told in Strathglass, and is tinged
with the colours of Celtic poetry and imagination. The story is of
the same class with "Washington Irving's "Kip Van "Winkle," and it
shows how universal talus of this description once were, peopling
alike the forests of Germany, the wildernesses of the New "World, and
the glens of Scotland. " Among the Braes of Strathglass is a small
round knoll, overgrown with birch, and watered by the romantic river
Glass. The spot goes under the name of Beatha Og, or young birch,
and has long been celebrated as a chosen abode of the fairies. One
New- Year's eve or Hogmanay (vide Burns or Jamieson's Dictionary),
when the people of the vale were making merry with pipe and dance, two
trusty swains went for some whisky, to assist in prolonging the festivities.
On their way home, while they carried an anker, or ten gallons, in a cask
slung over their shoulders in a woodie (a twisted bundle of birch twigs),
they had occasion to pass through the Beatha Og, when suddenly they
heard music proceeding as if from under the ground. They looked round,
and observing an opening on the side of the hill, they boldly entered.
In a twinkling our adventurous Highlanders found themselves among a
set of happy looking beings male and female all dancing, many of the
group being old acquaintances whom they had, years before, assisted to
carry to the grave. Drink was ottered them, and the foremost of the two
partook of the unblest cheer. His companion, suspecting all was not right,
refused to participat , and endeavoured to prevail on his friend to return
home. Donald, however, seemed obstinately wedded to the dance, and
the good things before him, and refused to stir. The other departed
alone, and gave a narrative of the whole adventure to his neighbours at
the wedding. They searched for him everywhere, listening at every point
and tree ; but instead of unearthly ministrelsy they heard only the waving
of the silvery birches and the gentle rippling of the stream. Daylight
came, and the search was renewed, but in vain.
"Years slipped away without bringing any tidings of the lost man, and
the whole Strath mourned for him. At length, exactly seven years al'tiT-
wards, on New- Year's eve, the people were again met to welcome in the
coming year. The companion of the lost man walked forth in the direc-
tion of the Beatha Og, to grieve for the fate of his friend. As he strolled
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 15
pensively along, he started at hearing the sound of fairy music the same
that had before led him astray and he made up to the spot. There was
the same opening in the brae, and, entering it, he found the same merry
party with his long lost friend dancing like a true Highlander. The mirth
and hilarity of the party seemed ominous, and the man, therefore, pulled
out his skeen-dhu, and, fastening it in Donald's coat, began to pull him
away. 'Now, it is a well-known fact in fairy lore, that, amongst their
other good qualities, steel and iron have the power of depriving fairies of
all potency over the human person. Donald was, accordingly, extricated
from the hands of the good folk, but IK/, before he had expressed his sur-
prise at the hastiness of his friend in wishing to leave so merry a party.
Upon his arrival at home, the joy of his family may be easily conceived ;
nor was Donald's astonishment less at finding the stir that had been made
about his absence. His girls had grown to be almost women ; the roses
on his wife's cheek had been nipt by time and grief, 'and several of his
neighbours had died. Upon feeling the shoulder on which he carried the
whisky he found that the woodie, by the weight of the cask pressing it
for so long a period, had sunk down to the bone, and that some bread and
cheese, which he took with him, had crumbled into dust. Yet the seven
years of fairy bliss appeared short as a dream !"*
There is scarcely in all Scotland a tract of scenery so gorgeously and
wildly so magnificently grand, and, at the same time, savage as the sur-
roundings of Loch-Maree so suited to be the home of fairy tribes. The
ranges of mountains abound in the elements of the picturesque and awful
beginning in abrupt precipices or bluffs, and swells beside the clear,
dark waters of the loch or at its bank, rising from the bed of the lake
clothed to the very edge with the young birch and the long grasses from
which peep the lily sedges and the meadow queen. Until of late years,
and more particularly until last year, the wild territory embraced within
its circuit was comparatively an unknown land to the tourist. Yet here
nature can be contemplated in all its grandeur, and the traveller who
ventures to explore these scenes will rarely fail to express his delight.
Each islet and bay has a name suggestive of its character. Over these
the mighty crags rise in ridges to the height of hundreds of yards,
and throw their dark shadows over the still, dark waters below. Nothing
can be grander than to stand upon the silent shore strewn with big masses
of boulder stones, and gaze up to the pinnacles high overhead, where the
hawk whistles shrilly as he poises himself for an instant ere he swoops
down upon his prey, and the grey eagle floats majestically on his pinions
through the clear blue of the still summer sky.
The wanderer who wishes to obtain a true idea of solitude has only to
ascend one of those giants and look around him. There nature seems en-
tirely dead. No sound will break upon his ears upon a calm day save
the drowsy hum of the mountain bee rising like the tone of a distant fairy
trumpet, and dying away o'er the golden moss-clad stones or purple
heather, only to render the solitude more silent than before. But a calm
day is not an every-day occurrence in those elevated spots. When the
wind is strong wild feelings of vastness and loneliness fill the tourist's
"brai;! as he sits on some fragment gazing on the black cloud forms driving
* Carruthers' " Highland Note Beok."
16 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
before the gathering storm, or listens to the booming and rushings of the
weird tempest spirit amid the fissured crags, or as it leaps over the sharp
ridged edges into the ravines below.
In addition to the attractions of nature the district is rife with histo-
rical reminiscences and the legendary and romantic tales and traditions of
the long ago.
" What is the name of that rock?" said I to a young country girl on
the lake shore, pointing to a projecting mass on the hill side, over which
dashed a mountain stream fringed with the hazel and the birch where it
fell, and rushing down a narrow valley like a rift in the side of Ben Slioch.
" I thought, sir, every one knew the king's fairy palace."
" Is he ever seen now-a-days?"
" Indeed, he's not, but the old people often saw him, and Mary Ban's
grandmother and my own knew a young married woman who was carried
away to bo head nurse to the young prince."
"Do you xemember the circumstances?"
" I'll tell you how it happened, sir."
" Many years ago there lived over at Erradale a rich farmer called Ewen
Mackenzie, who had one daughter, Mary, a most beautiful girl, and
just as good as she was handsome, and as old Ewen was known to be
well off. she was courted by many of the young men in the country side,
rich and poor. But it was hard to please her father, and harder still to
please Mary Laghach. At last came a wooer who pleased both, and the
match was soon made and Charlie Maclean was the happiest man far or
near, and when the bride was taken to her husband's home there was so
great rejoicing that old Eory I)all,who remembered the battle of Bel Rinnes,
said lie never saw or heard the like. Three days after going to her own
house Mary disappeared. None knew whither she had gone or what had
befallen her. She was searched for high and low by the neighbours, and
poor Charlie, her husband, never ceased searching and mourning till he
was almost out of his reason. At last, poor fellow, in his despair, he
thought of taking counsel of an old wise man who had great skill of the
Duine Sithe, and who lived at Gairloch. To him he went and asked him
for tidings of his missing bride. ' If you came to me before,' said he,
' you'd have little trouble in finding her, but now I fear it's too late.'
" ' Why is it too late ? Only tell me where she is and who has her in
keeping. You shall be well paid for it for if I once knew I would like
to see the mortal man who would keep her from me.'
"'Ochon,' said the fairy man, ' she is in no mortal hands. Your wife,'
added he solemnly, ' was stolen to be the head nurse of the young prince
of the fairies, who was born last month. It is now March and it will be
May eve before you can have the chance of seeing her, and it all depends
on yourself if you can bring her back. Meantime take this purse. It is
but little, yet you must keep it secretly and carefully like the apple of
your eye. It is full of the dust of a certain plant of great power. If
you can throw that dust on your wife you will be able to get her back,
but you must hold her fast in your arms whatever will be done to fear
you so as to let her go. You may even see her before May eve, so you had
better watch the cats chreay and the A-///// iiix<j<\ many a time and often,
and always alone.'
" Charlie Maclean, I need not tell you, watched long and sore through
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 17
all weathers day and night like a very caraiseach madadli. At last, though
May eve had not come, he began to despair of ever seeing her and to have
but little faith in the fairy man's purse and powder but lo, and behold,
he was soon convinced of their value and the truth of the old man's story.
At sunrise, one morning as he was sitting on a crag opposite the Fairy
Palace, he saw a beautiful rainbow spanning the glen and shining down
on the palacp and on the loch in front of it. Underneath this appeared
something which, at first indistinct, gradually became more clear and sub-
stantial, until it assumed the appearance of a woman of surpassing beauty
clothed in robes of heavenly blue, spotted all over with silver stars. The
long golden hair fell over her shoulders till the ringlets twined round her
feet, and her face and eyes were such that Charlie had never seen, even
in a dream, any person so beautiful. Bewildered, he sat spell-bound, only
half conscious he had seen her before but the glamour of fairy wile was
over him, and he could not recognise her person. The figure stood
lightly on the water, as if to afford him a full view, gazing earnestly on
him all the time. At length she advanced a few steps holding out her
hands entreatingly, as if imploring his aid, and having remained stationary
for a few moments, began to recede and gradually vanished amid the
melting rays of the rainbow along with the morning vapours, but ere she
finally disappeared beside the rock at the palace, casting a fond and
sorrowful look to her husband. In an instant Charlie's recollection re-
turned, and he cried in agony ' My wife, my wife, my darling Mary ! '
stretching out his arms unavailingly but his beloved was gone, and he
was doomed to watch and wearily wait for her return many a long night
and day. But his confidence in the wise man had returned more strongly
than ever, and he visited the Gairloch fiosaiche, carrying with him a good
sum, and telling him if he succeeded by his aid in recovering his wife he
would double the amount. ' "Watch well and you will surely bring her
back,' said the wise man. Charlie did watch well, and the day before
May eve caught another glimpse of his wife as she stood below another
rainbow over the lake, and looking far more beautiful than ever. This
sight gave him more determination, and he set off in haste on another
visit to his wise adviser. ' Now,' said his counsellor, ' to-morrow it will be
impossible for you to see the fairy home without my help, but you shall
have it. When you return take the path that leads to the mountains, and
whatever you see or whatever occurs never show faint heart. All will
come right.' As the sun went down Charlie took the path leading to the
mountains. As he neared the western end of the lake he reached a
boundary ditch where two lairds' lands met. He climbed the fence and
jumped to reach the opposite land, but instead of alighting on the green
turf he jumped on the back of an enormous black horse that seemed to
rise out of the earth to meet him. He at once knew by the glaring eyes
and snorting nostrils that the horse was none other than the Kelpie,. and
remembering the wise man's parting advice, he banished fear, aud stooping
forward fixed his hands in a firm grip of the flowing mane of his phantom
steed, and thus holding prepared for the terrible ride he knew was before
him. Away went the water-horse with a mighty rush like an arrow wind,
now leaping and rearing and screaming and neighing wild yells flounder-
ing and splashing through bogs and quagmires rushing over fences, and
B
18 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
like lightning up the mountains, over crags, through burns and torrents,
through ravine and glen, till after what appeared hours to Charlie, he
suddenly stopped in a dark wet hollow, and rearing shook his rider to the
ground, disappearing with a triumphant yell
" Charlie sprung to his feet, and finding he was unhurt, looked around
him. Over him were the giant mountains with their savage crests and
wild ravines and yawning valleys. Up one of these, which he knew too
well, for long had he watched it, he saw a noble road leading through the
sloping wood and down it, and walking in it in a most stately and demure
manner, a withered atomy of a man beautifully dressed, with a cocked
hat on his head and a niagnificant stand of pipes under his arm.
"'A happy May eve to you Charlie Maclean,' said the little man as he
came up with a polite and dignified bow.
"'The same to you, sir, and many,' returned Charlie, 'may I ask
where this road leads.'
"'Why, you goose, ought you not to know it leads to the Fairy
Palace, seeing you have watched it long enough 1 Don't you be trying
your tricks on travellers, my fine fellow. However, come on, I'll lead the
way, no matter who pays the piper.'
" With that he tunes up his pipes and marched along the road, Charlie
following. ' What tune do you like,' said he, turning round suddenly.
" ' Oh ! Cailleach Liath Rarsair,' answered Charlie, scarcely knowing
what he said.
"'It's a capital tune,' said the atomy, and immediately striking it up
played with such life and spirit that Charlie was so delighted as to feel
able to fight the whole fairy court to rescue his wife.
"'Now,' said the little piper, as he finished the tune, ' I haven't time to
play more, else I'd give you the prettiest pibroch ever was battered through
a chanter, for I must be going. Look up ; there is the palace afore your
eyes. One you know bade me tell you to stand in the porch till the
company conies out to the green. Your wife will be among them. A
word to a sensible man is enough. You have the purse of dust in your
pocket. Use it, [ say, use it whenever you see your wife.' With that he
struck up ' Charlie is my Darling,' and marched straight back down the
road.
" The Fairy Palace was now showing bright in all its grandeur, and
Charlie ran across the porch, and placing himself behind one of the large
pillars, prepared to wait for the appearance of the company. He had not
long to wait, for in a few minutes a troop of lords and ladies came forth
to have a dance upon the green. Charlie's heart gave a great
leap as he discovered his wife in their midst with the baby prince in her
arms. He had emptied the purse into his hand, and now waited anxiously
till she came opposite to him. . Then, in an instant, he cast the dust on
her head. The moment he did so a wild, angry, and terrible yell broke
from the multitude and echoed through the passages and vaults of the
palace. The child was snatched away, the bright throng disappeared, and
Charlie Maclean and his wife, Mary, found themselves clasped in each
other's arms at the foot of that rock that guards the entrance to the Fairy
King's Palace. There was great joy when Mary was first taken home,
but it was little to her second home-coming."
TORQUIL.
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 19
GAELIC AND CORNISH.
IN a short comparative study of the philological affinities of the Irish,
Manx, Breton and Welsh languages, contributed to the Gael of November
last, I spoke as follows : " The careful consideration of such word-growths
might enable us to determine some general laws, as to the special linguistic
conditions under which, in these later ages, the several members of the
great Celtic family have been marching on their several diverging ways ;
and any general linguistic laws, evolved on sure ground, in this one field
of the great Aiyan inquiry, -could not fail to be also eminently useful in
the wide domain" of general Aryan philology. In the same paper I
ventured also to express the hope that some of our more prominent Celtic
scholars would turn their attention to a field so full of the promise of rich
results. I regret that none of my learned friends seems disposed to take
the hint ; and, therefore, by way of a beginning, and, as it were, to show
the way to the da, majores on our little Scotch Olympus, I propose giving
here the first results of a short holiday excursion into the by-ways of
what remains to us of the Celtic literature of Cornwall. How much
remains to us of that old literature, in what condition, and of what quality,
needs not here be described. For, since the translation of Hovelacque into
English, we have had a good many popular re-productions of that author's
comprehensive summary on the subject. Neither, for the present, shall
I touch on the pregnant topics of word-growth and comparative inflectional
change. What I propose doing here is simply to inquire what words are
still common to the surviving remains of the Cornish and to our own
Scotch Gaelic. That question, narrow and simple as it seems to be, opens
up a very wide inquiry. For what they still possess in common, putting
aside all they could have borrowed from later neighbours, they must have
got in common, and got only at the old fireside of the old Aryan mother.
Our seemingly simple question thus broadens out into an inquiry which
may thus be formulated : What is there still common to Gael and Kerne*
of all that was their common patrimony, when in the dim primeval past
the family first divided, and each member took his several way, to make
new history, to encounter new and diverging fortunes, from new wants
and experiences to evolve new thoughts and contrivance, and in strange
lands, under foreign skies, to attune tongue aud ear to new name-sounds
for the same ? He who would successfully enter on this inquiry must
carefully remember the warning just hinted at. He must put clearly to
one side all such loan words as both members of the family could have
borrowed from others, either on the westward march, or after settling in
their new homes. If a Gaelic speaker, he must, before trimming his sails
to the freshening breeze of his natural enthusiasm, not only look out lor
the false lights of Cornish wreckers, but, even before leaving what he
* The Bretons in France, who claim a connection with Cornwall within the historic
period, speak of the Cornish as Kernes : and many of the oldest Breton ballads are set
down by De la Villemarque as les Kerne : Dialecte de CornouaiUe. On this suggestion I
venture to call the Cornish men Kernes, in the same way as we call ourselves Gaels, Of
course I am aware of the wider and contemptuous sense in which the word is used by
English authors,
20 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
fancies the terra finna of his mother-tongue, he must remember the
strange pranks of that Will o' the Wisp who has so often led our would-
be philologers a weary dance, not to solid supper, but to the duck-pond or
the quagmire.
All words, therefore, of ecclesiastical origin, in which the Cornish
remains are necessarily rich, it will be wise thus to put aside. For the
medieval cleric was cosmopolite, and to him Latin was everywhere the
technical speech of his order. And it must also be remembered that when
the Cornish manuscripts were written, the language, as living speech, was
already well nigh moribund. At the least, it is evident that English had
then made the same inroads into Cornwall that it is making to-day into
the Perthshire Highlands, where the spoken Gaelic of the people has a
large admixture* of English. It is not, indeed, to be forgotten that
English is itself of Aryan origin, as well as Gaelic, and that, therefore,
independently of this later process of mutual Anglo-Gaelic admixture or
assimilation, the two languages have always, of linguistic right and by
inheritance, had much in common. But neither, in this inquiry, can we
safely forget that the two languages have long been in such relations to
each other as are most favourable to mutual accommodation by the inflated
currency of loan words. Our English in Scotland has long been borrow-
ing from Gaelic not only idioms but words ; witness the songs of Burns,
who himself spoke no Gaelic. And if the stronger borrows from the
weaker, need we wonder that very largely and for a long time Gaelic has
been borrowing from English.
Keeping, then, as clear as can be of these two sources of error, let us
see what still survives in common to Gael and Kerne of the old family
inheritance. As they looked up to the blue sky, they both saw there, like
the old Aryan father, and in common with the whole Aryan brotherhood,
that great being whom they call respectively DIA and Du or DUY the
Tu of our Saxon Tu-esday, the DEUS of the Roman, and the THEOS of the
Greek. But when, in after times, Gael and Kerne came, in their several
ways, to read in between the lines of that grand impression of the Unseen,
the small print of more concrete and anthropomorphic ideas, suggested by
the mastery and authority of one man over another, elaborating more or
less consciously otir notion of the LORD-ship of God, the Gael called him
Tighearn and the Kerne, Arluit. The former name, we thus conclude,
they both carried with them from the old Aryan home, the latter names
they had learned, each for himself and in his own way, since parting with
that home and with each other. The heaven of both is ntf, their earth
tir and doer ; but the Cornisli stars are steren, the sun heuul, and the
moon luir. Both are practically at one in biou life, enef soul, taran
thunder, tan fire, tea heat, reu frost, iey ice, golou light, duv black, l//'ji/ti>/i
year, guaintoin (green time) spring, haf summer, and goyf winter. The
common heritage of the family is also more or less obvious in den and gur
man, benenrid and grueg woman, moroin girl, floli lad, bugel herd, ruy
king, and ///////'//,//,* ruif edict ; nor will the Highland crofter have much
difficulty in recognising a very special object of his affection in mair a
petty officer.
And what a picture opens up to us of the old Aryan family, living to-
gether in patriarchal simplicity, when we find that, after untold ages, two
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 21
wanders from the old hearth, whose children's children have been strangers
for countless generations, still to speak to us, through these old Cornish
legends and our Gaelic Bibles, of all that concerns the family life, in a
voice tha.t is all unchanged. For if the Cornish father is a little disguised
as tat and the mother as warn, yet what help of Grimm's laws does any
of us need to hear a brother's tongue in such words as teilu family, brand
brother, fhuir sister, mob son, car friend, and altruan foster-mother? Or
does the voice turn strange, or suggest a feeling anywise foreign to our
accustomed ideas, when it speaks of the head of the family as pen-teilu,
and of the mother as mam-teilu ? Similarly old Dlly Pendraeth, with
whom died, a hundred years ago, the living Cornish tongue, would tell us
Gaels how near we both keep to the old forms of speech which her
ancestors and ours learned from the same father, when she called her head
pen, her nose trein or iron, her chest cluit, her skin croin, her shoulder-
blade scuid, her elbow elin, and her hand lau. Indeed, I think, I can
even now form to myself a good picture of the worthy old crone, as
chattering strange words which none around her understood, and with the
nail (euuin) at the end of her long weird forefinger she touched and
mournfully counted each staring rib (asen) in the side of her old nag
(marc), which had come to such sad plight through lack of fat or blonec !
What says the Cornish language as to the social condition of the
primitive patriarchal Celt ? That he was a helh-fhur (sealgair) or hunter
goes without saying. But, it is to be expected, his game was in large
measure different from that of Ossian's heroes. The goat and the horse
were known to him, for it is only from him that Gael and Kerne alike
could learn to call these animals gaur and mare. He must have known
something of agriculture, else how could these his descendants, more entirely
sundered than are to-day the Antipodeans, agree to arm their plough with
a soc ? And there are other reasons for placing him in an age long posterior
to that of stone ; for though the Cornish gof seems to have been a Jack-
of-all-trades, working indifferently in metal and wood, and sometimes even
in clay, yet was there a Cornish eure, or gold-worker, and an heirnior, or
iron-worker. When this iron-worker handled his furnace or his red hot
metal clumsily, the result was a lose or burn, whose pain he eased with an
ointment, called by him, as we still call it in the Highlands, urat. He
had haloin, or salt, to his steak of goat's flesh ; when age, sickness, or
folly brought him to poverty he was bochodoc ; when good he was, not
ma, but da ; when a quarreller he was a strifor ; when a sinner he was
drocli-oberor or drocger ; and when fairly mad he had sack diaul. If a
spark from the anvil deprived him of sight, like his brother Gael, this
Cornish craftsman was dall ; if deaf he was bothar ; if dumb, qf-lauar ;
squinting, he was cam ; and aweary, guan or ainaich. Rest and refresh-
ment brought nerth, or strength, to his arm ; when he spoke truth it was
guirion ; and when, as skilful mechanics sometimes will, he blew, not his
bellows, but the horn of his own praise, his pride was goth. And finally,
though even he could never dream of the crown, or curun-ruy, and scarce
dared aspire to be a pen-can(t)-gur, or head of a hundred men, yet may it
be suggested, as a curious question in philology, whether he did not sit
among his fellows crowned with the first rude model of that universal
symbol of modern Saxon respectability, which, whenever he got it, he
wore and called a hot !
22 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
That the flora, as well as the fauna, of tribes wandering from a home
so distant by ways so far apart, should be differently named, is only what
is naturally to be expected, yet with both the plant is les and the bark
ruse. And not less suggestive, in view of a similarly sharp contrast well
known in Gaelic, as the result of the simplest literal change, is a class of
words in which the change of one letter in Cornish makes a word mean
something not merely different, but entirely the reverse, in Gaelic. Thus
in Cornish euske is sleep, in Gaelic duisg is awake.
Just two words in conclusion. Though the comparison in this paper
is nominally between Gaelic and Cornish, yet to most readers it is un-
necessary to explain that whatever is said of the former language may be
understood as said also of Manx and Irish ; Avhile what is said of the latter
may also be taken as more or less true of Welsh and Breton. And, for
the sake of brevity and simplicity, as well as from a desire to avoid the
appearance of what might seem akin to the yoth of our friend the heirnicr,
I have not allowed myself to indulge in references, however appropriately
these might sometimes be made, to the classical tongues and the Sanskrit.
The learned reader, as he proceeds, will mark such references and apply
them for himself. To the general reader they would be only confusing.
DONALD MASSON, M.A., M.D.
LOCHABER'S LONE STAR.
To Fassifern Cameron Stewart, NetLer-Locbaber.
In bonnie Lochaber 'mong brown heather hills,
In bonnie Lochaber by clear flowing rills,
When Leven's dark waters glide on in their glee,
I know a wee cot that is dear, dear to me ;
There sweet Fassifern in her. loveliness dwells,
And bright is the home 'neath the grace of her spells,
Than flowerets or rills she is bonnier far,
I joy when I sing of Lochaber's lone star.
As tender and pure as the eye of the dawn,
As fair and as blythe as the light-leaping fawn ;
O 1 surely her heart is the home of that love
Which springs in its beauty from fountains above.
Ye soft winds that blow o'er Lochaber's green braes,
. O ! let yeur sweet music be ever her praise ;
Ye wild sweeping tempests when rolling in war,
Be ever your song of Lochaber's lone star.
Her merry voice sounds as the whispers of streams,
Its echo still haunts me, I hear it in dreams ;
Her smile from my memory will never depart,
Its sunshine still clings with delight to my heart.
Ye angels of goodness ! O 1 hear ye my prayer,
Guard ever your sister from sadness or care ;
Let no blighting sorrows the happiness mar,
Of sweet Fassifern, my Lochaber's lone star.
SUNDEBLAND. WM. ALLAN.
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 23
HACO, THE DANE, OB THE PEINCE'S WOOING.
A TRUE ROMANCE OF LOCH-MAKEB, IN THREE PARTS.
By J. E. MDDDOCK, author of " A Wingless Angel" " As the Shadows
Fall" "Lovat, or Out in the '45," $c., $c.
PART I. THE DR^AM.
THE date is 1500, time the close of an August day, the scene Loch-Maree.
The sun is sinking in the west, and shafts of golden fire lie athwart the
bare and rugged mountains, lighting up their age worn sides, which seem
to glow and burn, and so contrast well with the deep fissures and gorges
which are steeped in purple shadow. The great mass of Ben Slioch rises
up boldly, a very king of mountains. His splintered outlines are sharply
defined in the pure, clear atmosphere, and his precipitous walls of rock
shimmer in the yellow light. The lake is very calm, for not even a zephyr
moves its bosom. The whole scene is one of peace and marvellous
beauty. Beautiful it always is, but often its peace is broken by the
barbarism of rival clans, who, sweeping down from the mountains like
the lordly eagles, rend and tear each other with remorseless ferocity.
Many a terrible deed of bloodshed and cruelty have those silent rocks
witnessed, and often have their rifts and hollows echoed back the dis-
pairing cry of some dying wretch, the victim of jealousy and feud.
There is not a pass but has been a witness to acts of heroism and
tieachery, not a mountain but has resounded with the battle cry of
warring clans. And if the loch could tell its tale many a ghastly secret
it might disclose. Of midnight surprises, of fights to the death, of hacked
and bleeding bodies that have slowly sunk into its dark depths, there to
lie until that great day when the heavens shall roll up as a scroll, and the
mountains dissolve away. But on this hot August afternoon the hand of
tranquility seems to have touched all things. The eagles poised them-
selves on motionless wings in the stagnant air, an idle bee or two hums
drowsily in the purple heather, and gaudy dragon flies, like winged jewels,
hang on the nodding blue bells as if they too felt the dreamy influence
of the dying day, and could give themselves up to delicious indolence.
Stretched on a soft carpet of green moss, on the south side of the
loch, and near where the Loch-Maree hotel now stands, was a young man
who also seemed to have caught something of the oscitant nature of the
evening. In age he was about five-and-twenty. He was possessed of a
singularly handsome face. His nostrils were straight and delicately
chiselled, and his forehead high. His eyes were a clear blue, and a light
moustache shaded his lip, while long golden curls hung in clusters over
his shoulders. From his dress, and the refinement which seemed stamped
on every feature, it was evident he was not a native of the district. The
Highlanders of that wild region were rugged and stern like unto their
own rocky mountains, but this man, though compact and well-formed, had
none of these characteristics. His hands were white and soft, and the
skin of his face and neck fair almost as a woman's. On his fingers were
24 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
two or three rings, r and at his "belt a long, thin dagger, in an elegantly
embossed sheath, hung. The handle was studded with jewels that
scintillated with every movement of his body.
This young man was Haco, a Danish prince, who had been sent from
the Court of Denmark to Scotland on a special mission in connection with
the Shetland Islands. Noble of birth, wealthy, and much beloved in his
own country, his future seemed to promise unalloyed happiness. If
there was a blemish in Haco's character it was a certain waywardness
which often led him to do things in opposition to the wishes of his
friends. He had come from his native country attended by only two or
three faithful followers, and his mission being completed, they had urged
him to return home. But he had turned a deaf ear to all their entreaties,
for reasons that will be presently disclosed. He was a keen sports-
man, and passionately fond of the chase. He had heard that Eoss-
shire, and especially the neighbourhood of Loch Maree, abounded with
wild deer, as well as wolves, and the temptation to hunt these animals
was too strong to be resisted. And many a noble stag, and many a savage
wolf had fallen before the unerring shot of his cross-bow.
One day while out hunting he lost his followers, and wandering down
to the margin of the Loch to quench his thirst with a draught of the
clear, pure water, he fell asleep amongst the heather. Suddenly he was
awakened by the sound of voices, and looking up, he beheld two monks
and a young lady. They were coming down to a boat which was lying
on the strand, and in which they had no doubt crossed the Loch.
As Prince Haco gazed upon the young woman he rubbed his eyes to
make sure that he was not dreaming, for it seemed as if the being who
stood before him was too radiant and beautiful to belong to the earth.
She was dressed in a pure white garment, that was girded with a
golden zone at the waist. Her face was marvellous in its perfect beauty.
Her skin, delicately tinged with pink on the checks, was clear and white
as snow. A great wealth of blue black, glossy hair hung loosely about
her shoulders and down her back, while her eyes were large, liquid, and
dark as night. In age she was little more than eighteen. Her figure
was perfect in its shape, and every curve and flowing outline displayed
by her graceful and classical costume.
Struck with astonisnment no less than admiration Prince Haco stared
at the beautiful girl who had so unexpectedly appeared before him, until
she blushed scarlet and turned her face from his burning glances. The
monks, in whose charge the young girl was, seemed annoyed at the
manner in which the Prince gazed at her, and they were passing on to
the boat without deigning to bestow further notice on him than a reprov-
ing and scornful scowl, when he rose suddenly, and, placing himself in
their way, he removed his bonnet, and kneeling on one knee he addressed
the elder and superior of the two monks. " Forgive me, holy father," he
said, "forgive me if I have displeased you by my apparent rudeness, but
a mortal may surely be pardoned for gazing on an angel."
" Thou speakst irreverently, my son," answered the monk, " our
daughter here is but of mortal mould. She is only a woman who intends
to devote her life to the church, and it is to be regretted if she has
aroused thine admiration." " Should I not be less than man if I had
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 25
not been struck by such marvellous beauty as that which I now behold,"
cried the Prince, and then turning to the young woman said "Fair lady,
pardon and pity me, I am even as a wild deer in whose side the arrow
quivers, for thy glances have deprived me of power and made me thy
slave. Grant that thy slave then may have the honour of pressing his
lips to that fair hand, and then let him learn thy name and who thou
art."
The monk who had first spoken drew the girl towards him, and plac-
ing himself between her and the still kneeling Prince, he exclaimed
angrily "Thou art guilty of presumption and impertinence, churl, in
daring to speak thus. Know that this lady dwelleth in the sanctity of the
Church and that she is the bride of heaven. Stand aside and let us pass."
Prince Haco rose suddenly to his feet, and drawing his tall handsome
figure up to its full height, as a look of anger came into his face, he placed
his hand upon the jewelled handle of his dagger, and exclamed, " An it
were not for the presence of that lady, saucy monk, that word churl should
cost thee thy life."
With a little cry of alarm the lady threw herself between the monk
and the Prince, and putting up her little white hands in a pleading
manner to the latter, she said in a sweetly musical voice
" My fair sir, I pray that you will not quarrel. The good father
meant no harm. He is my protector, and if he has said aught that has
wounded your feelings, I pray you, for my sake, forgive him." The
Prince caught one of the outstretched hands in his, and pressing his lips
to it he said
" For thy sake, fair lady, I would give my life. For a smile of those
sweet lips and a look of those bright eyes I would do such deeds as man
never did before. I am no churl, but in my veins runs pure and un-
sullied the royal blood of Denmark. I am Haco, the Danish Prince, and
now in the name of the Holy Mother, I pray you, sweet lady, tell me your
name."
The young girl drew back as though abashed, and clung to the arm of
the monk, who answered and said
Prince, I have heard of thee, and I am sorry that my hastiness led
me to wound thy sensitiveness, but know that in this lady's veins runs
blood as noble as thine own, for in her thou beholdst the Princess Thyra,
a Princess of the Eoyal House of Ulster in Ireland. "
" Haco, the Prince of Denmark greets Thyra, the Princess of Ulster,"
cried Haco as he once more bent his knee and pressed his lips to the fair
hand of the girl. Then rising and turning to the monk, he asked " But
tell me father what brings the noble lady here ?"
" She was sent by her father so that in the sanctity and peace of our
island monastery she might, while being far removed from the turmoil and
the strife which are shaking her own poor country, be taught humility and
Christian meekness, and devote herself to the service of God."
" She is too young and too beautiful to withdraw from the world,"
Haco murmured as if to himself, although his words reached the ears of
the monk and Princess. The latter blushed deeply, and she gave a quick
burning glance at the manly face of the Prince, which did not escape hia
notice. But the monk reproved him, and said
26 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
"Thy words are light and frivolous, my son. But we do but waste
time in argument, for the day wanes and we must return."
"Where have you been to and whither are you going?" asked the
Prince as if be had not noticed the reproof.
" We have been to one of our holy houses which is situated amongst
yonder hills," and the monk pointed to the south. "We have some sick
there, and the Princess makes a weekly visit so that she may comfort the
feeble. But we are returning now to the monastery on the Isle Maree and
must bid thee adieu."
" And may we not meet again, fair lady," pleaded the Prince as he
respectfully drew on one side, and sighed heavily.
" Alas ! it must not be," she returned softly, and for a moment their
eyes met. Then, as she turned hers away, she blushed with confusion
and passed down to the boat. Haco stood on the shore until the boat
had disappeared amongst the islands, then, as he turned to go, he mur-
mured " she has taken my heart with her."
He had for some time been residing at the house of a Chief of the
Clan Mackenzie, who dwelt at the head of the loch, and as he turned his
footsteps towards his dwelling he was unusually thoughtful. He was
received by his followers with every manifestation of delight, for they had
become uneasy at his absence. He mentioned nothing to them of his
adventure, but for days he remained silent and reserved, which was such an
unusual thing for him that it caused no little astonishment. Day after day
he stole away alone, and went down to the spot where he had first beheld
the Princess, in the hope that he might again see her, but he was always
disappointed, until, unable to control himself longer, he one day procured
a b'oat and rowed to the Isle Maree.
So sacred was the island considered that it was looked upon as almost
sacrilege for a layman and a stranger to visit it. Even the warring
clans respected the sanctity of the place, and while the din and shock
of battle shook the surrounding country, this tiny island remained
undisturbed.
It was a veritable garden of beauty. It was clothed with a luxuriant
growth of trees and shrubs. The monastery was a small, plainly built
structure. And one portion was set aside for the use ol about ten ladies
who devoted their lives to religion and charity. There were about thirty
monks in all, who were presided over by an aged Abbot a man of singu-
lar simplicity and purity of life. A small garden, filled with fruit and
flower trees, surrounded the building, and outside of this again a plot of
ground Avas set aside for a burial place. In addition there was a sacred
well whose waters possessed the most miraculous curative properties for
all sorts of disease, but more particularly for insanity. In fact the remedy
was so simple that the wonder was that any one should have been mad in
those days, or being so that they should have remained in that condition
longer than was necessary to go to the well, drink copiously of the potent
spring, then be dragged three times round the island at the stern of a
boat, whith a hair rope fastened under their armpits, and after undergoing
this mild treatment they invariably recovered or died, especially died.
Close to this very wonderful well was a money tree, into which a coin
was driven by the hand of every pilgrim to the island, and any one who
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 27
failed to make this monetary offering to the Tutelary Saint met with some
terrible reverse or died before the year was out.
Haco marched boldly up to the monastery gate, and requested the porter
to conduct him to the presence of the Father Superior. The Prince had
little difficulty in obtaining an interview, for there was something com-
manding in his tone and presence. Nor did the Abbot seem greatly sur-
prised when Haco told him that he had come to beg permission to woo
the Princess Thyra.
"Thou art bold and impetuous," the Abbot answered, after listening
patiently to the Prince, " and thou shouldst remember that it is not usual
for a man, even though he be of royal blood, to seek a bride in the very
shadow of the Church. It is true our daughter has not entered the
Church nor broken all ties with the world, for she is only placed under
our care until the political storms which now shake her father's throne
have passed away. At the same time it must not be forgotten that the
sanctity of the Church is around her, and it is our duty to protect her
honour and her virtue."
" I come here in the character of one who desires to woo her for my
wife," the Prince answered proudly. " I am of royal birth, and unstained
honour, and would die to shield hers."
" That is nobly spoken," the Abbot returned, " and if I were quite
sure that thou wert not mistaking passion for love I might be tempted to
encourage thy wooing."
" Nay, why should you doubt me," Haco exclaimed, " my name and
birth are a sufficient gurrantee that I am sincere, and to give you even
better assurance I vow by the name of the Blessed Virgin Mary that if
the Princess Thyra will wed nie she shall be my wife."
As he spoke he raised his hand and placed it reverently on a small
crucifix that stood upon the table. The Abbot was silent for a few
minutes and then he said " My son, I give thee my blessing."
Haco knelt, and the Holy Father placed his hand upon the Prince's
head and murmured a short prayer.
" I thank you, father," the Prince answered as he rose, " and I beg, in
acknowledgment of my gratitude, to bestow a thousand rnerks towards the
support of this monastery."
In a few minutes from this Prince Haco had the pleasure of once
more beholding the lady who had made so great an impression upon him.
Nor was she less impressed with him. That interview led to others un-
til they became plighted lovers.
At the moment that this story commences Prince Haco was waiting
for a boat to arrive from the island to convey him back, so that he might
spend an hour with his beloved Thyra, this being the time granted
him by the Abbot at each interview. He had fallen into a half dream
state in which his only thought was Princess Thyra. For some time the
drowsy hum of a drowsy bee as it buzzed round his head was the only
sound he heard, but presently he started up, for the plash of oars had
broken the stillness. A boat, rowed by a stalwart monk, was nearing the
shore, and when it touched the strand Prince Haco jumped in, and the
monk pulled back to Isle Maree.
The golden light had given place to a deep, scarlet blush so to speak,
28 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
that dyed the mountains and the bosoni of the loch. Gradually the blush
deepened, purple shadows mingled with the glowing red, and the great
masses of mountains seemed to blend and grow one into the other, as they
became indistinct and dark in the fading light of the dying day. Not a
cloud was round the head of Ben Slioch which shimmered in the lingering
glow that yet reddened the west.
As the Prince and the monk stepped from the boat on to the island
there suddenly rose on the still air the sound of the sweet angelus the
evensong of the monks. It was strangely, and solemnly impressive amid
the wild surroundings, and the grand old mountains seemed to echo back
the psalm of praise as if they too were worshipping the great Creator.
Prince Haco removed his bonnet, and he and the monk knelt and
reverently crossed themselves, until the voices died away and there was
stillness again. The Prince continued to kneel for some time, but the monk
rose and hurried towards the monastery. In a little while Haco started,
for his quick ear had caught the sound of a light footstep, and in another
moment he was pressing the Princess Thyra to his breast. She -had come
down to meet him, as she knew the hour he would arrive.
" My own beloved," he exclaimed, as he pressed his burning lips to
hers, " what happiness it is for me to hold ycu this, and know that you
are mine !"
" No less for me than you," she murmured sweetly low, " but Ah,
Haco, will you always love me thus 1"
" Always ? yes as surely as yonder star now shines over Ben Slioch's
peak. Aye, and I will be as faithful and as true to you as yon star is to
its orbit. But why, my darling, should you doubt me ?"
" I do not doubt, but the happiness seems so great that I have a sort
of undefined fear that it cannot last."
" Nonsense, heart of mine, what can come to destroy our happiness ?
The future lies before us an unshaded vista. It is all light and beauty,
and you and I, my sweet one, will walk together in perfect peace and per-
fect trust and perfect love."
" Oh, what a delicious dream !" she murmured.
" And why should our lives not be a dream, my Princess ? Born to
high estate, with riches and good friends and unclouded prospects, we
can sup our full of happiness until it pleases God to take us." A shudder
seemed to suddenly seize the Princess, and she clung closer to her lover.
A slight breeze had passed over the loch and shook the trees on the island
into a weird whisper as it were. " What is it that frightens you, my
treasure 1" he asked.
" Nothing," she answered with a little laugh, " it was but a nervous
feeling that seized me, and we thought that these ghostly trees, as they
were stirred by the night wind, said when you spoke ' It shall not be.'"
Haco pressed his strong arm closer round the slender waist of the
Princess, and answered
" You are morbidly inclined, my darling. The night wind, and the
murmuring waters, and the rustling trees speak to me only of love and
peace. Yon star shines not not more brightly than shall our lives."
" Amen to that," the Princess returned, then leaning her little head
upon his breast, she said, " I pray to the Blessed Virgin that nothing
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 29
may ever destroy our pleasant dream, and yet there are times when I
have a half-nervous dread that Red Hector of the Hills will bring us
trouble."
" Cease these fears, my darling," Haco cried with a forced merry laugh
that belied the true state of his feelings, for at the mention of Red Hector's
name the Prince's brow darkened, and he clenched his hands as if in
passion.
" But you know how Red Hector has pressed me to become his bride,"
she answered, " and he is so wild and stern that I fear me he would resort
to anything to gain his purpose."
"I fear him not," Haco returned with great firmness, "and if he
should persecute you more I will slay him."
" Nay, Haco my own, I would not have you take his life," the Princess
murmured as she threw her arms round her lover's neck and pressed her
warm cheek to his. " Should he annoy me further I will tell the Abbot
and seek his protection."
Whatever Haco's thoughts were he kept them to himself, and made
no further remark on the subject, and when a happy and too short hour
had passed the lovers separated, and the Prince blew a small silver whistle
which hung round his neck. This was a signal for the monk to appear
and row him across the loch.
When Haco reached the mainland, and close to the spot from whence
he had started, he sprung lightly out, and wishing the boatman good -night,
he bent his steps in the direction of his lodgings.
The moon was shining brilliantly, and the night was very still, save
for a soft breeze that had risen within the last hour, and was just moving
the heather and the trees into a weird rustle, that only served to heighten
the effects of the stillness.
As the Prince trudged on he was suddenly startled by a sound that was
not that of the wind, but which he knew to be an arrow that had whizzed
past his ear, and was within a hair'sbreadth of striking him in the face.
He was a bold and courageous youth, but he stopped and drew his long
rapier that flashed ominously in the moonlight, and while he stood irreso-
lutely, and undecided how to act, another arrow sped on its course and
went through his bonnet. No longer hesitating, he grasped his rapier
with a grip of iron and rushed towards a huge boulder that stood in his
path, and from which direction the arrows had been shot. As he reached
the rock, there suddenly rose up before him, like a spectre in the moon-
light, a tall, powerful man, with coarse red hair that hung about his
shoulders like a mat, and a beard that descended below his waist. His
arms were bare, and were brawny and powerful, and covered with coarse
fibrous hair that spoke of immense strength. In one hand he carried a
bow that was still strung, and raising this above his head, he stood like a
Hercules in the Prince's path, and in a stentorian voice exclaimed
" Hold, Prince. You and I have an account to settle, and one of us
must die to-night.
(To be Continued.)
30 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
WILLIAM, LOED CKECHTOUN, AT TAIN AND INVEKNESS,
A.D., 1483-1489.
BY GENERAL A. STEWART- ALLAN, F.S.A. SCOT., ETC.
THE residence of William, Lord Crechtoun, in the north of Scotland,
during the latter years of the reign of King James the Third, is an his-
torical episode, which has been hardly noticed by any of our historians,
and very cursorily glanced at by the few writers who have alluded to the
facts. It is, however, connected with an obscure, and indeed somewhat
mysterious piece of family history, in which a Princess of the blood-royal
of Scotland a sister of the reigning sovereign is closely mixed \\p in a
discreditable manner; and the whole story may be considered one of in-
cidents belonging to the chroniques scandalewes of the time. It has also
been hitherto treated with unaccountable brevity, as well as almost signi-
ficant paucity of the circumstantial evidence relating to it. It is not pre-
tended here to give a complete explanation of all the events which then
occurred, and which now may be considered to have escaped from the
range of full inquiry at least to any satisfactory extent for this essay
can only be offered as a slight contribution to history, and a compilation
from the best available authorities ; with mention of the sources from
which it is derived, and extracts, generally in the words of the writers
referred to, as the grounds on which the statements and inferences are based.
Sir Wiliam Crechtoun of Frendraught, and of that Ilk, was eldest son
and successor of James, second Lord Crechtoun, by his wife, Lady Janet
de Dunbar, the Lady of Frendraught, and eldest daughter an co-heir of
James, " Domiuus de Frendrath," who appears as " Janeta de Dunbar,
comitissa Moravie, et domina de Freudraught, &c.," on November 8, 1454.
[Erroll Charter Chest]; and which lady the heir-of-line of the Dunbars,
Earls of Moray survived her son the subject of this paper for several
years, as she was living November 22, 1493, when she resigned the barony
of Frendraught to her eldest grandson, James, and his heirs. [" Eeg.
Mag. Sigil.," lib. xiii., No. 71.] On the death of his father, James, be-
fore November 20, 1469, William succeeded him, as third Lord Crechtoun,
and must have been married shortly afterwards to Marion of Livingston,
a daughter (unnoticed by the Peerage writers) of Sir James Livingstone
of Calendar, first Lord Livingstone so created before August 30, 1458
["Keg. Mag. Sigil.," lib. v., No. 52] by Marion, his wife, who was still
alive on June 4, 1478, but had deceased before October J 9 following,
when a decree was granted, by the Lords of Council, to " Marion, Lady
of Crechtoun," as one of the executors of " vmquhile Marion, Lady Levin-
stoun." [" Acta Anditorum," p. 59; " Acta Domiuorum Concilii," p. 15,
fol. Edinburgh, 1839 ; edit. T. Thomson.] " Marioun, Lady Crechtoun,
as executrix to hir rnodir," again appears on March 6, 1479, when declared
entitled to payments from lands pertaining to her late mother. [" Acta,
Auditorum," p. 68, ut supru], and she may have lived several years subse-
quently, perhaps until about 1481, or even later. There is an action and
cause, however, before the same Lords Auditors, on March 18, 1479,
against " James of tuedy and Marion of Crechton, his spouse," which is
puzzling to explain. [" Acta Audit.," p. 79.] These references appear to
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 31
have escaped the critical notice of Riddell, in his remarks upon the
marriage under notice, and to which I have to acknowledge my obligations ;
though it is strange that he has given the dates of " 20th October 1478,"
for October 22, and " 8th of March, and 4th of July in the same year,"
for June 4, 1478, and March 18, 1479, which was the following year
citing Acta Dominorum Concilii, and Acta Auditor urn.* The date of
Marion, Lady Crechtoun's, death is not recorded, but she was certainly
the first, if not only, wife of William, Lord Crechtoun, and mother of his
son and heir, James, above-mentioned ; who must have been of full age
in the year 1492 and 1493, when he is found receiving grants of lands,
as proved by the Records of the Great Seal, already referred to. It also
appears from a process of October 23, 1493, that " James Crechtoun, the
son and are of vmquhile William, sumtyme lord Crechtoun," without the
concurrence of any tutor or curator, had previously assigned twenty-seven
ounces of gold to a certain Sir Thomas Tod, Knight for the " wranguis
detentioun," of which he now sought a remedy from the Lords of Council
in Civil Causes, who postponed consideration of his complaint until
February 12 following. ["Acta Dow. Cone.," ut supra, p. 311], which
conclusively proves that James could not have been a son of the Princess
Margaret, as hitherto asserted. An interesting fact also transpires from
this marriage (as Eiddell observes), which is, that Marion Livingstone
had obviously been a peace-ottering to reconcile the feuds and animosities
of the great families of Crechtoun and Livingstone, previously, as is well-
known, keen rivals for political power, during the troublous times in the
reigns of Kings James II. and III. The notices of William, in the first
years after his succession to the family title, are scanty, but the name of
" dominus Crechtoun " appears as attending the following Parliaments of
Scotland under James III., November 20, 1469 May 6, 1471 Novem-
ber 20, 1475 July 1, and October 4, 1476 April 6, 1478 March
1, and October 4, 1479, at Edinburgh, which is the last occasion on
which his name is found in the Parliamentary rolls. ["Acta Parl.
Scot.," vol. ii. pp. 93, 98, 108, 111, 115, 121, 122, 124.] There are
also five references to "ye lord Crechtoune," from October 15, 1478,
to June 13, ]480, amongst the Acts of the Lords of Council in Civil
Causes, consisting chiefly of claims made against him for the repayment
of sums of money, &c., which had been lent to him, by various persons,
at different times. ["ActaDom. Concil." ut supra, pp. 12, 14, 19, 44,
50.] Before the Lords Auditors of Causes and Complaints "ye lord
Crechtoune" is found at various periods, between August 5, 1473, and
October 1 483, to answer charges of " skathis and danpnage " preferred
against him, and other matters, in some of which, however, he was com-
plainant. ["Acta Auditorum," ut supra, pp. 29 et seq., to 122.]
There is no positive reason for alleging that, up to October 1479,
Lord Crechtoun had engaged in treasonable proceedings against his
sovereign, nor does he appear to have been directly implicated in the first
rebellion of Alexander, Duke of Albany ; which took place in the above
year, and was quickly suppressed by the decision and energy of the King,
when Albany escaped to France. There is no doubt, however, that he
was uu active adherent of the Duke in his second rebellion and treasonable
'Remarks on Scottish Peerage Law," &c., " By John Riddell, Esq., advocate.
Edinburgh : T. Clark," 8vo., 1833, p. 194 note.
32 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
invasion of the kingdom, assisted by an English army, in July 1482;
though the King was constrained, by a Parliament, assembled at Edin-
burgh, December 2 following, to pardon his brother, and even to create him
Lieut.-General of the kingdom, this arrangement soon terminated. Albany
was forced to resign his usurped office before March 1483, when James
was restored to his free and full power, and the turbulent nobles resumed
their loyalty for a time, though the most powerful of his late supporters
were deprived of the offices and dignities which they abused to the pur-
poses of conspiracy and rebellion. The Earl of Euchau, with Lord Crech-
toun and Sir James Liddale of Halkerstoune, who appear to have been
considered the most dangerous of the conspirators with England, were
ordered to be banished fromthe realm for the space of three years. The
disloyal Duke then retired into England, leaving an English garrison
in his castle of Dunbar ; and in the Parliament of June 27, he was finally
forfeited, along with Sir James Liddale, for repeated acts of treason, and
designs to dethrone King James III. By a solemn decree of the three
estates of the realm, after he had failed to appear before them, though duly
summoned by Eothesay herald, "Alexander, Duke of Albany, Earl of
March, of Mar, and of Gariach, Lord of Annandale and of Man," was
found guilty of the crimes laid to his charge, and his life, lands, offices,
and all other possessions, declared to be forfeited to the crown.* His
dishonoured career was prolonged, in exile, till 1 485, when he died, at
Paris, from the effects of a wound received in a tournament there. After
his last escape to England, in April 1483, Albany had still remained busy
concerting measures with his adherents, for a more formidable expedition
against his native land ; and his friend, Lord Crechtoun, " one of the
most powerful and warlike of the Scottish barons " according to Tytler
" engaged with the utmost ardour in concentrating his party in Scotland,
and fortifying their castles for a determined resistance against their
Sovereign." ["Hist, of Scotland," ii., 245, et passim.]
Lord Crechtoun, with a long list of his adherents, experienced a
similar fate within a few months afterwards, while the treason of Angus
Gray and other rebel lords remained unknown. The whole process of
" forisfacture" of "Will. dom. Crechtoun," is recorded in the Acts of
Parliament of Scotland, where it occupies several pages (ii., 154-161
inch, 164), and lasted from February 19 to 24 ; on which latter date he
was sentenced by the Court of Parliament of Edinburgh, in the presence
of the Sovereign, personally presiding there, to forfeit his life, lands, and
all other possessions whatsoever he had of the Crown, in punishment of
" dome," for the treasons and crimes committed by him "against the peace
of the realm, and our lord, the King." It appeared in evidence that the
Eoyal messenger-at-arms, Alexander Hepburn of Qhitsum, Sheriff of Edin-
burgh, because he could not apprehend William, Lord Crechtoun person-
ally, passed with the letters of summons to the Castle of Crechtoun, on
November 20, 1483, citing him to " comper" in person in the Parliament
to be held at Edinburgh, on February 1 9 following, there to answer for
his treasonable art, part, counsel, and assistance to Alexander, some time
Duke of Albany, in his treasonable sending of Sir James of Liddale,
formerly of Halkerstoun, into England, with treasonable writings and in-
structions ; for receiving a pursuivant of the King of England, " call it blew-
* "Act ParL Scot.," vol. ii., pp. 146-152, "Pinkwton," &c., passim.
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 33
mantle;"* and finally after enumerating other treasonable acts for "ye
tressonablc stuffing with men and wittale of ye Castell of Crechtoun, and
for the treasonable consale and assistence gevin to the personis being in
the said castell of Crechtoun in the treasonable halding of the said castell
aganis our said lords writings and Acts of Parliament, efter our soveran
lords grace to the said lord Crechtoun gevin and grantit efter the mony
and divers crimes Rebellionis and trespasses contrar our soueran lord
and his Eealme be him comytit and done." ["Act Parl. Scot." ii., 260.]
This was a most formidable indictment, and deserving all the penalties
of the crime of high-treason, aggravated also by his previously having been
pardoned for former numerous crimes of rebellion. It is therefore not
surprising that he should have dreaded appearing for trial before his peers,
and sought refuge in the remote parts of the north of Scotland, where he
found sanctuary within the inviolable " girth of S. Duthach, at Tayn in
Ross." Lord Crechtoun must have fled to Tain about the middle of the
year 1483, probably immediately after hearing of the forfeiture of the
Duke of Albany, in whose treasons he was so deeply implicated ; and
more especially after stuffing, that is garrisoning, his ancestral Castle of
Crechtoun, near Edinburgh, and putting it in a state of defence against
the royal troops, in behalf of his friend the Duke of Albany. From the
Acts of Parliament, above referred to, it appears that the Sheriff of Edin-
burgh, being unable to apprehend Lord Crechtoun personally at his own
castle, published the summons for treason at the Market Cross of Edin-
burgh, on December 7, 1483; and next endeavoured to serve it with the
necessary legal formalities, according to the following account of the pro-
ceedings. "The 11 day of December 1483, I, William Cumyn, macer
and Sheriff in that part, by our Sovereign lord specially constituted, by his
letters directed to me, passed with the same, and the witness Symon
Sperdor, messsenger, Thomas Scot, Johne Cowy, with others diverse,
to the Market Cross of Aberdene ; and in likewise the 1 8 day of the
same month and year forsaid, I passed with the said letters and these
witnesses, Thomas Scot, Johne Fresar, and Johne Cowy, Patric Prat, one
of the Bailies of Banf, Patric Blith, and Patric Duncansoun, burgess of
the same, to the market cross of Banff; and the 20 day of the same
month and year I passed with the said letters and these witnesses, Symon
Sperdor, Thomas Scot, Johne Fresar, John of Cowy, with others diverse,
to the market cross of Elgin ; the 22 day of the said month and year, I
passed with the said letters and these witnesses, Thomas Scot, Johne
Fresar, John Cowy, Archbald Broun, and John Terres, with others
diverse, to the market cross of Forres ; the 23 day of the moneth and
year foresaid, I passed with the said letters and these witnesses, Thomas
Scot, Johne Fresar, Johne Cowy, William Caldor, and Alane Thomsoun,
burgess of Name, with others diverse, to the market cross of Name ; and
the same 23 day I passed with the said letters and these witnesses,
Thomas Scot, Johne Fresar, Johne Cowy, Alexander Fleming, Alexander
Eede, and Johnne Patersoun, burgess of Inverness, to the market cross
of the same ; and beoause I cowth not get certain verification nor know-
* The earliest Pursuivant-at-arms Bluemantle recorded, is John Brice, gent, who
was in office, under Richard VII., and " probably dispossessed," according to Noble, in
"History of College of Arms," [4to, London, 1804 ; p. 93] probably the same.
C
34 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
ledge where to find nor apprehend personally William, Lord Crechtoun,
I passed to all the boroughs forenamed, and at the market cross of the
same, at days and before witnesses above expremit, I summoned peremtourly
by open proclamation!! the same William, Lord Crechtoun, and moreover,
the penult day of the mouth and year foresaid, I passed with the said
letters and these witnesses, Thomas Scot, Johne Fresar, Johne Cowy,
William Johnsoun, one of the Bailies of Thane, Thomas Rede, a Bailie of
Cromarty, Mawnis Vans, burges of Invernes, and Alexander Sutherland,
bruther and famuliar servitor to the said Lord Crechtoun, to the town of
Thane in Ross, within the sheriffdom of Inverness foresaid, where the
same Lord Crechtoun had his dwelling, as I was informed, in the Vicar's
house of Thane ; and at all the market crosses of the borowis before
named, and vicar's house in Thane also foresaid, I summoned lawfully
and peremptorily, in the name and authority of our Sovereign lord, the
King, the said William, Lord Crechtoun, to compear personally before our
forenamed Sovereign lord in his next Parliament, to be haldin at Edin-
burgh, on Thuisday, the xix. day of the month of February next to
come," &c. The foregoing notarial statement, though rather prolix, is in-
teresting, both as showing the difficulties the "masar," or mace-bearer,
acting as Sheriff-Substitute, and employed by the Sheriff of Edinburgh,
had in serving the summons on Lord Crechtoun, in his distant place of
concealment ; and also the time he occupied in travelling northwards,
through the different burghs of Aberdeen, Banff, Elgin, Forres, Nairn,
and Inverness, until he finally succeeded in discovering the fugitive lord
"in the town of Thane in Ross." All which arose from his inability to
" get certane verificacioun nor knaulage quhar to fynd nor apprehend
personaly William, lord Crechtoun;" although when he had at last traced
him to his residence at Tain, he was only able to serve the summons at
the vicar's house there, without doing so personally, or apprehending him.
He concludes the report of his proceedings at Tain, by stating that " in
all the above within executioun I made Intimacioun that whether the said
lord Crechtoun compearit or nocht at day and place to him lymyt with
continuacioun ol'dais, Our Soveran lord nevertheless Justice passand before
wald precede ; and also of our soverane lord's lettres to me direct in this
inattej as said Is. I gaif the copy to the foresaid Alexander Sutherland,
quhilk Requirit me proof on the behalf of the said lord Crechtoun, at
Thane, the penult day of december above written." [" Act. Parl. Scot"
ii., 159-1 CO.] The expressions used are slightly modernised, but other-
wise these extracts are literally copied, without alteration the contrac-
tions being merely completed to render the meaning plainer. From the
different names of the witnesses given, we learn those oi' several burgesses
of our northern towns, nearly four centimes ago "Jonne Patersoun"
and "Mawnis Vans" (Magnus Vans?), of Inverness, "Thomas Rede, a
bail/e of Cromaty," and " William Johnsoun, one of the baillies of Thaiu-."
" William Caldor, at Name," seems to have been the venerable Thane of
Cawdor, or Calder, who flourished between the years 1467 and 1503, and
was the last of the old race of Thanes, as well as of those who bore that
ancient title in Scotland.*
(To be Continued.)
* Cosmo Innes. " The Book of the Thanes of Cawdor, 1236-1742." Spalding Club
Edition. Ediuburgh, 4to, 1859 ; passim.
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
DIRECTORY OF HIGHLAND AND CELTIC SOCIETIES.
THE GAELIC SOCIETY OF INVEENESS.
OFFICE-BEARERS FOR 1878-9.
Chief John Mackay, C.E., Swansea
Honorary Chieftains Sir Kenneth S. Mackenzie of Gairloch, Baronet ; Professor John
Stuart Blackie ; Charles Eraser-Mackintosh, M.P. ; Duncan Davidson of Tulloch.
Chieftains Alexander Simpson, Provost of Inverness ; Colin Chisholm, Broadstone Park, and
Duncan A. Macrae, Englishton
Honorary Secretary William Mackay, solicitor, Church Street
Secretary William Mackenzie, Free Press Office, Inverness
Treasurer George J. Campbell, solicitor, Church Street, Inverness
Council
Charles Mackay, Culduthel Road Charles Ferguson, Raigmore
John Macdonald, The Exchange John Whyte, Highlander Office
John Murdoch, Highlander Office
Librarian Charles Ferguson, Raigmore
Sard Mrs Mary Mackellar Piper Pipe- Major Alexander Maclennan
Bankers The Caledonian Banking Company
This Society publishes a volume of " Transactions " annually, a copy of which every Member
of the Association receives gratis.
THE GAELIC SOCIETY OF LONDON FOUNDED 1777.
Chief The Marquis of Huntly
President John Cameron Macphee
Vice-P resident Walter H. Burton
Gaelic Secretary Donald Campbell
Librarian James Fraser
Treasurer Alex. Mackenzie Mackay
Secretary John Forbes, 66 Charing Cross
The meetings are held at the Society's Rooms, No. 1 Adam Street, Adelphi Terrace, at 8 P.M.,
on the Second Wednesday of every month, excepting July, August, and September. Highlanders
are invited to attend.
THE EDINBUEGH SUTHEELAND ASSOCIATION.
Patrons.
His Grace the Duke of Sutherland, K.G. | The Right Honourable Lord Reay
OFFICE-BEARERS.
President John Macdonald, 7 Albany Street, Edinburgh
Vice-President A. Mackay Robson, 121 Constitution Street, Leith
Treasurer Alexander Mackay, 20 St Andrew Square
Secretary James Macdonald, W.S., 21 Thistle Street, Edinburgh
Assistant Secretary Hugh M. Matheson, 4 Roseneath Terrace
Piper James Kerr
Committee.
John Macdonald, 30 Haddington Place
Donald Mackay, 73 Cockburn Street
HughJMackay, 22 Prince Regent St., Leith
William Macpherson, 4 East Adam Street
James Mackay, 20 St Andrew Square
George Matheson, 15 Clerk Street
PROGRAMME FOR 1878-9. Annual Meeting, 6th December 1878, at 8 P.M., in No. 5 St Andrew
Square. After business, Essay by Mr Macmichael. Annual Social Meeting, 10th January 1879,
in Masonic Hall the Marquis of Stafford in the chair. Quarterly Meeting, 7th March 1879, at
8 P.M., in No. 5 St Andrew Square. After business, Essay.
The Association has opened Gaelic Music and Reading Classes in the Free Tron Church,
Chambers Street, open to all Highlanders, every Tuesday, from 8 to 10 P.M. Mr D.
Robertson conducts the singing, and Mr Alex. Mackay the Gaelic reading class.
THE HEBBUEN CELTIC ASSOCIATION.
Chief J. Macfadyen Chieftains J. Matheson and W. Matheson
Secretary Alex. J. Macleod Treasurer D. Macgregor
Committee.
J. Macleod Campbell.
D. Colquhoun
J. Macleod
S. Little
H. Sutherland
F. Junor
D. Corbett.
L. Grant
J. Munro
J. Dunn
First Friday of each month set apart for reading MS. Magazine made up of original contribu-
tions supplied by the members during the month. This Periodical is afterwards circulated
among the members. Second Friday General business. Third Friday Debates on Celtic
subjects. Fourth Friday Amusements ; Gaelic and English songs, recitations, &c., varied by
Highland dances, pipe music, and cognate subjects.
3G THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
COMUNN GA1DHEALACH GHLASCHU.
GLASGOW HIGHLAND ASSOCIATION.
OFFICE-BEARERS, 1878-9.
Chief Clvmy Macpherson of Cluny //.<,/>./># Chieftain Duncan Sharp, Keppoch Hill
fauna- Messrs Duncan White anclJames Fraser
Secretary J. G. Mackay, 1.">S Plantation Street Treasurer John Munro
CUSPAIK. September 3, 1878 " Eaclulraidh nan Seanna Ghaidheal," by Mr Duncan White.
October 1 " Innis Ghall," by Mr Norman Morrison. November 5" Slainte," by Mr M. Mac-
donald. Decembers " An Gaidheal 's a' bhaile-mhor," by Mr Henry Whyte. January 7, 1878
'ih-chrahhadh am wcas;; nan Gaidheal," by Mr J. G. Mackay. l-'eliniary 4" Land Ten-
ure in the Highlands," by Mr W. L. Bogle. March 4 " Tuathanachas am mea-sg nan Gaidheal.' 1
by Mr C. A. Walker.
The ordinary meetings are held on the first Tuesday of each month. Gaelic Concerts in the
Assembly Rooms, 138 Bath Street, every Saturday evening from October to March inclusive, at
8P.M. ' _ _ __ _
GLASGOW SUTHERLAND ASSOCIATION.
OFFICE-BEARERS.
Patron His Grace the Duke of Sutherland, K.G.
President John Mackay, C.E., Swansea
Vice-President William Sutherland, F.E.I. S., Crossbill
Secretary Angus Sutherland, 230 Argyle St. Treagurer Angus Mackay, Garscube Road
Directors Messrs James Matheson, Gilbert Mackintosh, Charles Fraser, John G.
Mackay, and George Macleod
The ordinary meetings are held on the first Thursday of the months of January, February,
March, April, October, November, and December.
GLASGOW COWAL SOCIETY.
OFFICE-BEARERS, 1878-9.
Honorary President The Most Noble the Marquis of Lome
President Colin Brown Vice-P resident John Macfie
Directors
D. Macgregor
Duncan Black
John Maclean
J. Mackellar
Peter Maclean
M. Hunter, jun.
Duncan Currie
D. C. Maclean
Captain Alex. Maclean
Treasurer Duncan Whyte, 326 Duke Street
Secretary James Mackellar, 433 New City Road
SYLLABUS, 1878-9. September 27, 1878 Address, by the President. October 25 Mackinlay's
Explorations in Australia, by Mr 1). Whyte. November 29 Ossianic Poetry, and its allusions
to Cowal Scenery, by Mr Archibald Brown. December 20 Railway Clearing House, by Mr D.
Campbell. January 31, 1879 Druidism, by Mr Archibale Whyte. February 28 Poetry, by Mr
D. D. Maclean. March 28 Depopulation of the Natives of Cowal during the present century,
with a sketch of its Topography and Family Names, by Mr D. C. Maclean. April 25 General
business meeting.
The ordinary meetings of the Society are held on the above dates, at 7.45 P.M., within the
Religious Institution Rooms, 112 Buchanan Street, Glasgow.
THE GLASGOW SHINTY ASSOCIATION.
OFFICE-BEARERS, 1878-9.
President Capt. James Menzies, 105th L.R.V.
Vioe-PregidentJ. G. Mackay, 158 Plantation Street (Ossian).
Secretary Malcolm Leitch, 74 Parson Street (Inveraray)
Treasurer Alexander Miickellar, 31 Raeberry Street (Cowal)
THE GREENOCK HIGHLAND SOCIETY.
Chief The Most Noble the Marquis of Lome.
Patrons.
The Most Noble the Marquis of Bute | Sir Michael R. Shaw Stewart, Baronet.
President James Johnson Grieve. Vice-PresidentJohn Fleming.
OFFICE-BEARERS.
John Erskine Walter Grieve Hugh Mackay
John Cameron Dr Macraild |
Directors.
3. G. Ross
A. Sinclair
D. .Mackintosh
John Campbell
John Thomson
S. Nicolson
Graham Bremner
Archibald Cook
R. Brown
Harry Buchanan
John M. Campbell
D. Campbell
Kenneth Mackaskill
J. Kerr
R. Duncan
James Mackenzie
William Cook
Neil Brown
Treasurer James Brown.
Joint Secretaries- {% %%$**' <* Nicolson street . and
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 37
THE LONDON" HIGHLAND CAMANACHD CLUB.
Patron The Right Hon. Lord Lovat
President Right Hon. Lord Colin Campbell, M.P.
Chief J. W. Malcolm of Poltalloch
Honorary Captain Charles Fraser-Mackintosh, M.P.
Chieftain Donald Grant, Great St Helen's, B.C.
Captain J. Maedonald-Cameron, F.C.S., South Kensington, W.
Vice-Captain Archibald Mactavish, Albany Street, Regent's Park, W.
Club-Bearer A. Macrae-Chisholni, Old Broad Street, E.C.
Treasurer Archibald Mackintosh, Orris Villa, Hammersmith, W.
Secretary Alister Maclennan, Woburn Place, Russell Square, W.C.
Members meet for practice and play every alternate Saturday during the season at Wimbledon.
The annual Club dinner takes place in December.
BIRMINGHAM CELTIC SOCIETY.
OFFICE-BEARERS.
Chief Jonathan Nicolson
Chieftains A. R. Munro and A. Maclure
Treasurer Angus Macgregor Secretary D. Skinner, 127 Cattell Road
Members of Council
D. Campbell D. Macinnes A. Macintyre
D. Macarthur A. Macdonald
M. Macinnes
ARGYLLSHIRE GATHERING, OBAN.
COMMITTEE.
The Marquis of Lome, K.T., President.
Stewards.
Lieutenant-Colonel C. A. Macdougall of Macdougall, Convener
Lieutenant-Colonel C. Greenhill Gardyne of Glenforsa
J. Campbell of Kilberry.
N. M. Macdonald of Dunach.
Colin C. Finlay, yr. of Castle Toward.
Secretary and Treasurer J. Fraser Sim, Oban
Bankers National Bank of Scotland, Oban
fittiWiujfS^-Breadalbans Street, Oban
The Society hold one Social Meeting annually.
GLASGOW ISLAY ASSOCIATION.
OFFICE-BEARERS SESSION, 1878-9.
Patrons.
John F. Campbell of Islay Colin Hay, Ardbeg, Islay
Kirkman Finlay. Dunlossit, Islay
Honorary Presidents.
Crawford Graham, Lagavulin, Islay Duncan MacCalluin, Glasgow
Rev. Robt. Blair, M.A., St Columba, Glasgow | L. Maclean, Islay House, Islay
Honorary Secretary Duncan Macgregor, Glasgow
Directors.
Mai. Smith, Chairman Joseph Hill, Vice-Chairman
Arch. Sinclair
Neil Macarthur
Angus Macallister
Duncan Macniven
Duncan Macleod
John Ogilvie
N. Gilchrist
Jn. Cameron
Don. Macdougall
John Love
Treasurer Samuel Macfadyen, Glasgow
Secretary Donald Martin, 239 New City Road, Glasgow
Assistant Secretary Arch. Maccalluin, Glasgow
GLASGOW CELTIC SOCIETY INSTITUTED 1857.
OFFICE-BEARERS FOR 1878.
Chief The Earl of Dunmore
President John Orr Ewing of liallikinrain, M.P.
Vice-President Duncan Smith, 115 St Vincent Street, Glasgow
Hon. Treasurer John Elder, 151 Hope Street, Glasgow
Hon. Srcretary George Rennie, 38 West George Street, Glasgow
Directors
Arch. Macdougall
Jas. Macmillan
Donald Brown
John Macmillan, 70 Mitchell Street, Glasgow
John Elder, 151 Hope Street, Glasgow
James Dewar, Renfrew Court, Glasgow
Alex. Macneill, 20 Union Street, Glasgow
Captain Menzies, 66 Bath Street, Glasgow
James Fleming, 83 Jamaica Street, Glasgow
Dr Buchanan, 24 Westminster Terrace, Glasgow
Neil Sinclair, 42 Miller Street, Glasgow
George Rennie, 38 West George Street, Glasgow
Colin Campbell, 8 Bothwell Street, Glasgow
Duncan Macdougall, 302 Buchanan Street,
Glasgow
38 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
GLASGOW PERTHSHIRE ASSOCIATION.
OFFICE-BEARERS FOR 1878.
Patron Charles Stirling Home Drummond Moray of Blairdrummoml and Abercairney
President Peter Gardner, \V.S. Late President Charles Maclean
Directors
John Hutchison
It. M. Buchanan
William Macculloch
A. M. Robertson
Secretury and Tre
James Menzies
Professor Ramsay
George Ogilvie
Laurence Robertson
asurer George Gray, 72 Hutches
James Cleland Burns
James Blair
John Muir
William MacOnie
3n Street, Glasgow
GLASGOW NOETHEEN HIGHLAND BENEVOLENT SOCIETY.
Patron Vice-Patron George Sutherland of Forse
President George Munro, Elmbauk Crescent Ex-President John Matheson, yr. of Cordale.
Ordinary Directors
George Macleod, 69 Ingrain Street
George Munro, 25 Elmbank Crescent
Cluny Macpherson, 135 St Vincent Street
James Fraser, 41 North Albion Street
Robert Murray, 41 North Albion Street
George Sinclair, 199 St Vincent Street
Alexander Mackay, 20 Union Street
George Macbeth, 29 Clyde Place
J ohn Bannerman, British Linen Bank,QueenSt.
William Sinclair, 199 St Vincent Street
Kenneth Macleod, Ingram Street
John Macmillan, 70 Mitchell Street
Treasurer George Sinclair, 199 St Vincent Street
Secretary Martin Mackay, 89 West Regent Street
The Directors meet quarterly on the second Wednesday of January, April, July, and October
in each year. The objects of the Society are entirely of a Benevolent character.
FINGAL LODGE OF GOOD TEMPLARS (FAEDACH FHINN).
OFFICE-BEARERS.
D. Macpherson, D.G.W.C.T. D. Nicolson, W.S.
D. Machines, W.C.T. J. Macphail, W.T.
Meets every Friday in the St Clair Hall, 25 Robertson Street, at 8 P.M. All business con-
ducted in Gaelic.
COMUNN TIE NAM BEANN, GLASGOW.
D. Macpherson, President 3. Nicholson, Secretary
D. Machines, V ice-President J. Macphail, Treasurer
Directors A. Campbell, J. Macfadyen, J. Macphail, J. Campbell, and A. Macfadyen.
Gaelic Concerts held every Saturday in the Hall, 56 Carrick Street, from September to March
inclusive, at 8 P.M. D. Macpherson, Chairman.
GLASGOW AEGYLLSHIEE SOCIETY INSTITUTED IN 1851.
OFFICE-BEARERS.
President James Alexander Campbell of Strcathro
Treasurer Colin Campbell, 8 Bothwell Street, Glasgow
Ordinary Directors
Lachlan Cowan
Samuel Dow, junr.
Rev. Robert Blair
Alexander C. Hunter John Macinillan
Donald Ross Neil Sinclair
John B. Wright And. Galbraith
The above are also Trustees.
Seeretary Duncan Macdougall, Solicitor, 302 Buchanan Street, Glasgow
The obj
Fan
wise
be considered proper i .
nected with Argyllshire, whether resident there or in Glasgow. Annual Contribution by Ordi-
nary Members Three Guineas.
[We propose publishing the Directory of Celtic Societies annually in future, and we shall
esteem it a favour if the above Societies, and others who have not this your supplied us with the
necessary information, will kindly aid us in making the next one more perfect and complete.]
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 39
WILLIAM JOLLY, H.M.I.S., ON TEACHING GAELIC IN SCHOOLS.
-o
IN his official report to the Education Department, Mr Jolly writes as
follows :
Gaelic has gained large attention of late, and is a subject of great importance, in-
volving as it does the question of the right use in schools of the daily language of 300,000
of our people. Having given it some study, I would briefly state the conclusions at
which I have arrived regarding it :
1. In Highland schools, we ought to read English first, as the language of trade,
comm'eree, current literature, and general intercourse, necessary for success in life, and
desired universally by Highlanders themselves. There are some theoretic grounds for
learning to read the native tongue before a foreign one, but the question in this case is
one of what is most expedient, and in the end most successful, in regard to both lan-
guages, in the short school-life of Highland children ; and the idea of reading Gaelic
first is 'only entertained by a few enthusiasts. English being foreign and more difficult,
it could not be acquired to any purpose if one or two years of the five or six of school
life were first devoted to another language. If school time is short enough for English-
speaking children, with all their advantages, to gain even a meagre power over it, why
allow less time to a Gaelic child to learn it, to whom it is a foreign tongue ? But by
beginning with English, Gaelic may be read with ease in a short time, when a child is
able to read English, for he has merely to apply the power of reading which he has
acquired to the language he knows and uses. So that the end of the enthusiasts would
itself be gained by the more rational method, while increased power over English would
also be obtained.
2. Gaelic should be used orally in the teaching of English from the first, in order to
get at and train the intelligence of Gaelic children, and to make the teaching of English
more thorough. Of the wisdom of this course in all possible cases, there cannot be one
moment's doubt, for it is an application of the universal educational axiom of teaching
the unknown through and by the known, and it is especially necessary in the present
case. This should be done, not only in regard to words, but in regard to the matter of
the lessons. In the case of infant-school lessons to purely Gaelic speaking children,
Gaelic would require to be used exclusively at first, if the work is to be in any way
intelligent. But in all cases care should be taken to use English more and more, so as to
give the children increasing power over it, the amount of English used being, of course,
determined by the extent of their knowledge of it. There is a tendency with many
Highland teachers to use Gaelic too much, on account, no doubt, of the greater ease and
pleasure of using it. This retards progress, however, and should be guarded against.
Even those who wish Gaelic "stamped out" (and there are not a few Highlanders who
have strong views on this point), could best effect their object by a judicious cultivation
of Gaelic in teaching English, so as to train the intelligence through it ; because the
more English is intelligently understood and used by Gaelic children, the sooner will it
become the general speech of the people, and the sooner, therefore, will Gaelic die. So
that both the friends and enemies of Gaelic have an interest in using it for training
intelligence.
3. The importance of Gaelic literature as an instrument of education and culture to
the Gaelic people should be recognised in the teaching of Gaelic children. It is in and
by the mother tongue of a people alone, with its thousand memories ef home and youth,
play and friendship, nature and religion, and with its countless avenues to the deeper
feelings, that the education of the heart and the higher nature can be truly carried on ;
it is by it alone that sentiment, feeling, devotion, and even the higher intellect can be
really trained. And the mother tongue becomes a stronger instrument of culture when
it contains a good and generous literature. Our school education should look beyond
the little time spent within school walls to the after education of the man, and give him
the power of pursuing this, by the use of the literature that appeals to and is best able
to penetrate and mould his nature and touch its deeper springs. No foreign literature,
however splendid, can do this. It must be done through the language of home, youth,
love, and daily lite, if there is a literature in that tongue. And such a literature exists
in Gaelic, able to perform this higher function to the Highlander, abundant, varied, aad
powerful, full of fine sentiment, pleasant humour, lyrical beauty, deep feeling, practical
wisduni, and natural life.
In a closing paragraph, Mr Jolly says that this question in no way touches
40
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE,
the other question of the desirability or otherwise of Gaelic dying out as a
spoken tongue, which in many ways would be an advantage to the people : -
The teaching of it intelligently would not retard that certain issue of national life
one single hour it would undoubtedly hasten it. But while Gaelic is spoken, while it
is the hourly language of nearly half -a-million of our people, and while it is used by many
more, it would seem to be but simple justice, if not higher wisdom, to recognise this
fact, and to act upon it in our schools.
HO-RO MO NIGH'N DONN BHOIDHEACH.
In moderate time.
cTW-
^=*
A nighean donn nam blath - shuil, Gur og a thug mi gradh dhut
Chorus Ho - ro mo nigh'n donn bhoidheach, Hi ri nao nigh'u donn bhoidheach,
D.C. for Chorus.
m
3
I r
Tha d'iamhaidh ghaoil a's d'ailleachd, A ghuath tigh'nn fo m' uiilh.
Mo chaileag laghach bhoidheach, Co phosainn ach thu ?
KEY A.
: s, I d :-. t, 1 1, : s, I d : | B, : s, 1 d :-. r ! f : m I r :- I m
:f s : s | m :s s, : | d :r
D.C. for Chorus.
m :-
Cha cheil mi air an t-saoghal,
Gu bheil mo mhiann 's mo ghaol ort ;
'S ged chaidh mi uait air faondradh,
Cha chaochail mo run.
Ho-ro, &c.
'N uair bha mi ann ad lathair,
Bu shona bha mo laithean ;
A' sealbhachadh do mhanrain,
A's aille do ghnuis.
Ho-ro, &c.
Gnuis aoidheil, bhanail, mhalda
Na h-oigh a's caoimhe nadur ;
I suairce, ceanail, baigheil,
Lan grais agns muirn.
Ho-ro, &c.
Ach riamh o 'n dh' fhag mi t' fhiauuis,
Gu bheil mi dubhach, cianail ;
Mo chridhe trom ga phianadh
Le iarguin do ruin.
Ho-ro, &c.
Ge lurach air a' chabhsair
Na mnathan oga Gallda,
A righ ! gur beag mo gheall-s'
Air bhi' sealltainn 'n an gnuis.
Ho-ro, &c.
'S ann tha mo run 's na beanntaibh,
Far bheil mo ribhinn ghreannar,
Mar ros am fasach Shamhraidh,
An gleann fad' o shuil.
Ho-ro, &c.
Ach 'n uair a thig an Samhradh,
Bheir mine sgriob do 'n ghleann ud,
'S gu 'n tog mi leam do 'n Ghalldachd,
Gu h-annsail, am flur.
Ho-ro, &c.
NOTE. " Ho-ro mo nighean donn bhoidheach "i s so well known throughout the High-
lands that it is unnecessary to say anything in its praise in now presenting it to the
readers of the Celtic Magazine. "W. M'K.
THE
CELTIC MAGAZINE.
No. XXXVIII. DECEMBER 1878. VOL. IV.
HISTORY OF THE CLAN MACKENZIE,
WITH GENEALOGIES OF THE PKINC1PAL FAMILIES.
BY THE EDITOR.
[CONTINUED.]
XVII. WILLIAM, Fifth EARL OF SEAFORTH and Sixth LORD MAC-
KENZIE OF KINTAIL, known among the Highlanders as " William
Dubh." He does not appear at any time to have assumed the title of
Marquis. He succeeded at a most important era in the history of Scot-
land, just when the country was divided on the great question of
union with England, which, in spite of the fears of most of the
Highland chiefs and nobles of Scotland, turned out in the end so
beneficial to both. He would, no doubt, during his residence with his
exiled parents in France, have imbibed strong Jacobite feelings. We have
been able to obtain but little information of William's proceedings during
the first few years of his rule. He appears to have continued abroad, for
on the 23d of May 1709 an order appears addressed to the forester at
Letterewe signed by the Earl's mother, the Dowager " Frances Seaforth."
On the 22d of June 1713 she addresses a letter to Colin Mackenzie of Kin-
craig, in which she says " I find my son William is fully inclined to do
justice to all. Within fifteen days he will be at Brahan."* It also is
signed "Frances Seaforth."
At this time a great majority of the southern nobles were ready to
break out into open rebellion, while the Highland chiefs were almost to
a man prepared for a rising. This soon became apparent to the Government.
Bodies of armed Highlanders were seen moving about in several districts in
the North. A party appeared in the neighbourhood of Inverness which
was, however, soon dispersed by the garrison. The Government became
alarmed, and the lords justices sent a large number of half-pay officers,
chiefly from the Scottish regiments, to officer the militia, under command
of Major-General Whitham, commander-in-chief at the time in Scotland.
These proceedings alarmed the Jacobites, most of whom returned to their
homes. The Duke of Gordon was confined in Edinburgh Castle, and the
Marquis of Huntly and Lord Drummond in their respective residences.
The latter fled to the Highlands and offered bail for his good behaviour.
* Original produced at Allangrange Service in 1829.
42 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
Captain Campbell of Glcndaruel, who had obtained a commission from
the late Administration to raise an independent company of Highlanders,
was apprehended at Inverlochy and sent prisoner to Edinburgh. Sir
Donald Macdonald of Sleat was also seized and committed to the same
place, and a proclamation was issued offering a reward of ,100,000
sterling for the apprehension of the Chevalier should he land or attempt
to land in great Britain. King George, on his arrival, threw himself
entirely into the arms of the Whigs, who alone shared his favours. A
spirit of the most violent discontent was excited throughout the whole
kingdom, and the populace, led on by the Jacobite leaders, raised tumults
in different parts of the King's dominions. The Chevalier, taking ad-
vantage of this excitement, issued his manifesto to the chief nobility, espe-
cially to the Dukes of Shrewsbury, Marlborough, and Argyll, who handed
them to the Secretaries of State.
The King dissolved Parliament in the month of January 1715, and
issued an extraordinary proclamation calling together a new Parliament.
The "Whigs were successful both in England and Scotland, but particularly
so in the latter, where a majority of the peers, and forty out of the forty-five
members then returned to the Commons, were in favour of the King's
Government. The principal struggle was in the county of Inverness,
between Mackenzie of Prestonhall strongly supported by Glen-
garry and the other Jacobite chiefs, and Forbes of Culloden, brother of
the celebrated President, who carried the election through the influence
of Brigadier-General Grant and the friends of Lord Lovat.
The Earl of Mar, who had rendered himself extremely unpopular among
the Jacobite chiefs, afterwards rewarded some of his former favourites by
advocating the repeal of the Union. He was again made Secretary of
State for Scotland in 1713, but was unceremoniously dismissed from
office by George I., and vowed revenge. He afterwards found his way
north to Fife, and subsequently to the Braes of Mar. On the 19th of
August 1715, he despatched letters to the principal Jacobites, among
whom was Lord Seaforth, inviting them to attend a grand hunting
match at Braeinar on the 27th of the same month. This was a ruse
meant to cover his intention to raise the standard of rebellion, and that
the Jacobites were let into the secret is evident from the fact that as
early as the 6th of August those in Edinburgh and the neighbourhood
were aware of his intentions to come to Scotland. Under pretence of
attending this grand match a considerable number of noblemen and
gentlemen arrived at Aboyne about the appointed time, among whom
were the Marquis of Huntly, eldest son of the Duke of Gordon; the
Marquis of Tullibardine, eldest son of the Duke of Athole ; the Earls of
Nithsdale, Marischal, Traquair, Errol, Southesk, Carnwarth, Seaforth,
Linlithgow, and others ; the Viscounts Kilsyth, Kenmure, Kingston, and
Stormont; Lords Eollo, Duffus, Drammond, Strathallan, Ogilvie, and
Nairne ; and about twenty -six gentlemen of influence in the Highlands,
among whom were Generals Hamilton and Gordon, Glengarry, Campbell
of Glendaruel, and the lairds of Auchterhouse and Auldbar.* Mar made
a stirring address, expressing regret for his past conduct in favouring the
* History of the Highland Clans ; Kae, p. 189 ; Annals of King George, pp. 15-16,
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 43
Union, and, now that his eyes were opened, promising to do all in his
power to retrieve the past and make his countrymen again a free people.
He produced a commission from James appointing him Lieutenant-
Geueral and Commander of all the Jacobite forces in Scotland, informed
the meeting that he was supplied with money, and that an arrangement
had been made by which he would be enabled to pay regularly any forces
that might be raised, so that no gentleman who should join his standard
with his followers would be put to any expense, and the country would
be entirely relieved of the expenses of conducting the war; after which
the meeting unanimously resolved to take up arms to establish the
Chevalier on the Scottish throne. They then took the oath of fidelity to
the Earl as representative of James VIII. and to each other, and
separated, each going home promising to raise his vassals and be in readi-
ness to join Mar whenever they were summoned to do so. They had
scarcely arrived at their respective destinations when they were called
upon to meet the Earl at Aboyne on the 3d of September following,
where, with only sixty followers, Mar proclaimed the Chevalier at Castle-
town in Braemar, after which he proceeded to Kirkmichael, where, on the
6th of September, he raised his standard in presence of a force of 2000
men, mostly consisting of horse. When in course of erection the ball on
the top of the pole fell off. This, which was regarded by the Highlanders
as a bad omen, cast a gloom over the proceedings of the day.
Meanwhile Colonel Sir Hector Munro, who had served as Captain of
the Earl of Orkney's Regiment with reputation in the wars of Queen
Anne, raised his followers, who, with a body of Rosses, amounted to
about 600 men. With these, in November 1715, he encamped at Alness,
and on the 6th of October following he was joined by the Earl of Suther-
land, accompanied by his son, Lord Strathnaver, and by Lord Reay, with
an additional force of 600, in the interest of the Whig Government, and
to cover their own districts and check the movements of the Western
clans in effecting a junction with the Earl- of Mar, whom Earl William
and Sir Donald Macdonald had publicly espoused, as already stated, at
the pretended hunting match in Braemar. This meeting at Alness had
the effect of keeping Seaforth in the North. If the Earl and his mother's
clans had advanced a month earlier the Duke of Argyll could not have
dared to make head against Mar's united forces, who might have pushed
an army across the Forth sufficient to have paralyzed any exertion that
might have been made to have preserved a shadow of the existing Govern-
ment in Scotland. It may be said that if Dundee had lived to have held
the commission of Mar, such a junction would not have been necessary to
effect, which amounts to no more than that the life of Dundee would
have been tantamount to a restoration of the Stewarts. Mar was not
trained in the camp, nor did he possess the military genius of a Dundee.
Had Montrose a moiety of his force things would have been otherwise.
Mar, trusting to Seaforth's reinforcement, was inactive, and Seaforth was
for a time kept in by the collocation of Sutherland's levies, till he was
also joined by 700 Macdonalds and detachments from other names,
amounting, with his own followers, to 3000 men, with which he instantly
attacked the Earl of Sutherland, who fled with his mixed army precipit-
ately to Bonar-Bridge, where they dispersed. A party of Grants on, their
44 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
way to join them, on "being informed of Sutherland's retreat, thought it
prudent to retrace their steps. Seaforth, thus relieved, levied considerable
fines on Munro's territories, which were fully retaliated in his absence
with the Jacobite army, to join which he now set out ; and Sir John
Mackenzie of Coul, whom lie had ordered to occupy Inverness, was, after
a gallant resistance, forced by Lord Lovat, at the head of a mixed body
of Erasers and Grants, to retreat with his garrison to Koss-shire. " Whether
he followed his chief to Perth does not appear; but on Seaforth's
arrival that Mar seems for the first time to have resolved on the passage
of the Firth a movement which led to the Battle of Sheriffuiuir is
evident and conclusive as to the different features given to the whole
campaign by the Whig camp at Alness, however creditable to the noble
Earl and his mother's confederates. But it is not our present province to
enter on a military review of the conduct of either army preceding this
consequential conflict, or to decide to which party the victory, claimed
"by both parties, properly belonged; suffice it to say that above 3000 of
Seaforth's men formed a considerable part of the second line, and seem
from the general account on that subject to have done their duty."* A
great many of Seaforth's followers were slain, among whom were four
gentlemen who appear to have signally distinguished themselves. These
were John Mackenzie of Hilton, who commanded a company of the Mac-
kenzies, John Mackenzie of Applecross, John of Conchra, and John of
Achtertyre. Their prowess on the field has been commemorated by one
of their followers, John MacRae, who escaped and returned home, in an
excellent Gaelic poem, known as " Latha Blar an t-Siorra," or the " Day
of Sheriffniuir," and which we shall preserve elsewhere. The fate of
these renowned warriors was keenly regretted by their Highland country-
men, and they are still remembered and distinguished among them as
" Ceithear lanan na h-Alba," or the " Four Johns of Scotland."
During the previous troubles Islandonain Castle got into the hands of
the King's troops, but some time before Sheriffniuir it was again secured
by the following stratagem : A neighbouring tenant applied to the
Governor for some of the garrison to cut his corn, as he feared from the
appearance of the sky and the croaking of ravens that a heavy storm was
impending, and that nothing but a sudden separation of his crop from
the ground could save his family from starvation. The Governor readily
yielded to his solicitations and sent the garrison of Government soldiers
then in the castle to his aid, who, on their return, discovered the ruse
too late ; for the Kintail men were by this time reaping the spoils, and
had possession of the castle. " The oldest inhabitant of the parish re-
members to have seen the Kintail men under arms, dancing on the leaden
roof, just as they were setting out for the Battle of Sheriffmuir, where
this resolute band was cut to pieces, "t
Inverness continued meanwhile in possession of the Mackenzies, under
command of the Governor, Sir John Mackenzie of Coul, and George Mac-
kenzie of Gruinard. Macdonald of Keppoch was on his march to support
Sir John at Inverness, and Lord Lovat, learning this, gathered his men
together, and on the 7th of November decided to throw himself
* Bennetsfield MS. t Old Statistical Account of Kintail, 1792.
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 45
across the river Ness and place his forces directly between Keppoch and
the Governor. Sir John, on discovering the movement of Lovat, resolved
to make a sally out of the garrison and place the enemy between him and
the advancing Keppoch, where he could attack him with advantage, but
Keppoch became alarmed and returned home through Glen-Urquhart,
whereupon Lord Lovat marched straight upon Inverness, and took up a
position about a mile to the west of the town. The authorities were
summoned to send out the garrison and the Governor, or the town would
be burned and the inhabitants put to the sword. Preparations were
made for the attack, but Sir John Mackenzie, considering any further
defence hopeless, on the 10th of November collected together all the
boats he could find, and at high water safely effected his escape from the
town, when Lovat marched in without opposition. His Lordship
advised the Earl of Sutherland of his possession of Inverness, and on the
15th November the latter, leaving Colonel Eobert Munro of Fowlis as
Governor of Inverness, went with his followers, accompanied by Lord
Lovat with some of his men, to Brahan Castle, and compelled the respon-
sible men of the Clan Mackenzie who were not in the South with the
Earl of Seaforth, to come under an obligation for their peaceable be-
haviour, and to return the arms previously taken from the Munroes by
Lord Seaforth at Alness ; to release the prisoners in their possession, and
promise not to assist Lord Seaforth directly or indirectly in his efforts
against the Government ; that they would grant to the Earl of Suther-
land any sum of money he might require from them upon due notice for
the use of the Government ; and, finally, that Brahan Castle, the principal
residence of the Earl of Seaforth, should be turned into a garrison for his
Majesty King George.
Seaforth returned home from Sheriffmuir, and again collected his
men near Brahan, but the Earl of Sutherland, with a large number of his
own men, Lord Reay's, the Munroee, Rosses, Culloden's men, and the
Erasers, marched to meet him and encamped at Beauly, within a few
miles of Seaforth's camp, and prepared to give him battle, " which, when
my Lord Seaforth saw, he thought it convenient to capitulate, own the
King's authority, disperse his men, and propose the mediation of these
Government friends for his pardon. Upon his submission the King was
graciously pleased to send down orders that upon giving up his arms and
coming into Inverness, he might expect his pardon ; yet upon the
Pretender's Anvil at Perth and my Lord Huntly's suggestions to him
that now was the time for them to appear for their King and country,
and that what honour they lost at Dunblane might yet be regained ; but
while he thus insinuated to my Lord Seaforth, he privately found that
my Lord Seaforth had by being an early suitor for the King's pardon, by
promising to lay down his arms, and owning the King's authority, claimed
in a great measure to an assurance of his life and fortune, which he
thought proper for himself to purchase at the rate of disappointing Sea-
forth, with hopes of standing by the good old cause, till Seaforth, with
that vain hopes, lost the King's favour that was promised him ; which
Huntly embraced by taking the very first opportunity of deserting the
Pretender's cause, and surrendering himself upon terms made with him
of safety to his life and fortune. This sounded so sweet to him that he
46 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
sleeped so secure as never to dream of any preservation for a great many
good gentlemen that made choice to stand by him and serve under him,
than many other worthy nobles who would die or banish rather than not
show their personal bravery, and all other friendly offices to their ad-
herents."*
In February 1716, hopeless of attaining his object, the unfortunate
son of James II. left Scotland, the land of his forefathers, never to visit
it again, and Earl William followed him to the common resort of the
exiled Jacobites of the time. On the 7th of the following May an act of
attainder was passed against the Earl and other chiefs of the Jacobite
party. Their estates were forfeited, though practically in many cases, and
especially in that of the Earl of Seaforth, it was found extremely difficult
to carry the forfeiture into effect, as we shall presently see. The Master
of Sinclair is responsible for the base and unfounded allegation that the
Earl of Seaforth, the Marquis of Huntly, and other Jacobites, were in
treaty with the Government to deliver up the Chevalier to the Duke of
Argyll, that they might procure better terms for themselves than they
could otherwise expect. " This odious charge, which is not corroborated
by any other writer, must be looked upon as highly improbable. "t If
any proof of the untruthfulness of this charge is necessary it will be
found in the fact that Earl "William returned afterwards to the Island of
Lews, and re-embodied his vassals there under an experienced officer,
Campbell of Orinundel, who had served with distinction in the Russian
army, and it was not until a large Government force was sent over against
him, which he found it impossible successfully to oppose, that he recrossed
to the mainland and escaped to France.
Among the " gentlemen prisoners " taken to the Castle of Stirling on
the day after the Battle of Sheriifmuir we find the following in a list
published in " Patten's Rebellion " Kenneth Mackenzie, nephew to Sir
Alexander Mackenzie of Coul ; John Maclean, adjutant to Colonel Mac-
kenzie's Regiment ; Colin Mackenzie of Kildin, captain of Fairburn's
Regiment ; Hugh MacRaw, Donald MacRaw, and Christopher MacRae.
The war declared against Spain in December 1718 again revived the
hopes of the Jacobites, who, in accordance with a stipulation between
the British Government and the Duke of Orleans, then Regent of France,
had previously, with the Chevalier and the Duke of Oruiond at their
head, been ordered out of France. They repaired to Madrid where they
held conferences with Cardinal Alberoni, and concerted an invasion of
Great Britain. On the 10th of March 1719 a fleet, consisting of ten
men-of-war and twenty-one transports, having on board five thousand
men, a large quantity of ammunition, and thirty thousand muskets, sailed
from Cadiz under the command of the Duke of Ormond, with instructions
to join the rest of the expedition at Corunna, and to make a descent at
once upon England, Scotland, and Ireland. The sorry fate of this expe-
dition is well-known. Only two frigates reached its destination, the rest
having been dispersed and disabled off Cape Finisterre by a violent storm
.which lasted about twelve days. The two ships which survived the
storm and reached Scotland had on board the Earl of Seaforth and Earl
* Lord Lovat's Account of the Taking of Inverness, ration's Rebellion,
t Fullarton's Highland Clans, p. 471.
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 47
Marischal, the Marquis of Tullibardine, some field officers, three hundred
Spaniards, and arms and ammunition for two thousand men. They
entered Lochalsh about the middle of May. They effected a landing in
Kintail and were joined by a body of Seaforth's vassals, and a party of
Macgregors under command of the famous Rob Roy ; but the other
Jacobite chiefs, remembering their previous disappointments and misfor-
tunes, stood aloof until the whole of Ormond's forces should arrive.
General Wightman, who was stationed at Inverness, hearing of their
arrival, marched to meet them with 2000 Dutch troops and a detachment
of the garrison at Inverness. Seaforth's forces and their allies took pos-
session of the pass of Glenshiel, but on the approach of the Government
forces they retired to the pass of Strachell, which they decided to defend
at all hazards. They were here engaged by General Wightman, who,
after a smart skirmish of about three hours' duration, and after inflicting
some loss upon the Highlanders, drove them from one eminence to another
till night came on, when the Highlanders, their chief having been seriously
wounded, and giving up all hopes of a successful resistance, retired
during the night to the mountains, carrying Seaforth along with them ;
and the Spaniards, next morning, surrendered themselves prisoners of
war.* Seaforth, Marischal, and Tullibardine, with the other principal
officers, managed to effect their escape to the Western Isles, from which
they afterwards found their way to the continent. Rob Roy was placed
in ambush with the view of attacking the Royal troops in the rear, and
it is recorded that having more zeal than prudence, he attacked the rear
of the enemy's column before they had become engaged in front ; his
small party was routed, and the intention of placing the King's troops
between two fires was thus defeated. t General Wightman sent a detach-
ment to Islandonain Castle, which he ordered to be blown up and de-
molished.
Wightman advanced from the Highland Capital by Loch-Ness, and
a modern writer pertinently asks " Why he was allowed to pass by such
a route without opposition ? It is alleged that Marischal and Tullibardine
had interrupted the movements of the invaders by ill-timed altercations
about command, but we are provoked to observe that some extraordinary
interposition seems evident to frustrate every scheme towards forwarding
the cause of the ill-fated house of Stuart. Had the Chevalier St George
arrived earlier, as he might have done ; had William Earl of Seaforth
joined the Earl of Mar some time before, as he ought to have done ; and
strengthened as Mar would then have been, had he boldly advanced on
Stirling, as it appears he would have done, Argyll's force would have
been annihilated and James VIII. proclaimed at the Cross of Edinburgh.
Well did the brave Highlanders indignantly demand, 'What did you
* The Spaniards kept their powder magazine and balls behind the manse, but after
the Battle of Glenshiel they set fire to it lest it should fall into the hands of the King's
troops. These balls are still gathered up by sportsmen, and are found in great abund-
ance upon the glebe. Old Statistical Account of Kintail.
t New Statistical Account of Glenshiel, by the Rev. John Macrae, who gives a
minute description of the scenes of the battle, and informs us that in constructing the
parliamentary road which runs through the Glen a few years ago, several bullets and
pieces of musket barrels were found ; and the green mounds which corer the graves of
the slain, and the ruins of a rude breast-work, which the Highlanders constructed on
the crest of the bill to cover their position, still mark the scene of the coullict,
48 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
call us to arms for ? Was it to run away ? What did our own King
come for ? Was it to see . us butchered by hangmen ? ' There was a
fatuity that accompanied all their undertakings which neutralised intre-
pidity, devotedness, and bravery ; which the annals of no other people
can exhibit, and paltry jealousies which stultified exertions, which, inde-
pendently of political results, astonished Europe at large."*
An Act of Parliament for disarming the Highlanders was passed in
1716, but in some cases to very little purpose, for some of the most dis-
affected clans were better armed than ever, though by the Act the collectors
of taxes were allowed to pay for the arms given in, none were delivered
except those which were broken, old, and unfit for use, and these were
valued at prices far above what they were really worth. Not only so,
but a lively trade in old arms was carried on with Holland and other
continental countries, and these arms were sold to the commissioners as
Highland weapons, at exorbitant prices. Geneial Wade also found in the
possession of the "Highlanders a large quantity of arms which they ob-
tained from the Spaniards who took part in the Rattle of Glenshiel, and
he computed that those Highlanders opposed to the Government possessed
at this time DO less than five or six thousand arms of various kinds.
Wade arrived in Inverness on the 10th of August 1725, and in virtue
of another Act passed in the same year, he was empowered to
proceed to the Highlands and to summon the clans to deliver up their
arms, and carry beveral other recommendations of his own into etfect.
On his arrival he immediately proceeded to business, went to Brahan
Castle, and called on the Mackenzies to deliver up their weapons. He
took those presented to him on the word of Murchison, factor on the
estate, and by the representation of Tarbat, Sir Kenneth Mackenzie of
Cromarty, and Sir Colin Mackenzie of Coul, at the head of 'a large depu-
tation of the clan, he compromised his more rigid instructions and
accepted a selection of worn-out and worthless arms, and at the same time
promised that if the clan exhibited a willing disposition to comply with
the orders of the Government he would use his influence in the following
Parliament to procure a remission for their chief and his followers ;
and we find, to quote our last-named authority, that " through his
means, and the action of other minions of Court (Tarbat was then in
power), Seaforth received a simple pardon by letters patent in 1726, for
himself and clan, whose submission was recognised in the sham form of
delivering their arms, a matter of the less consequence as few of that
generation were to have an opportunity of wielding them again in the
same cause."
(To be Continued.)
THE fourth part of Sinclair's " Oranaiche," recently issued, is in every
way quite up to its predecessors. The next part will complete the work
in accordance with the original intention of the Publishers.
* Bennetsfield MS.
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 49
HACO, THE DANE, OE THE PBINCE'S WOOING.
A TRUE ROMANCE OF LOCH-MAREE, IN THREE PARTS.
By J. E. MUDDOCK, author of " A Wingless Angel" " As the Shadoics
Fall," " Lovat, or Out in the '45," $c., $c.
PART II. THE DUEL TO THE DEATH.
IN the strange and wild looking man who had so suddenly appeared before
him, as if he had risen out of the very bowels of the earth, Haco recog-
nised "Bed Hector of the Hills."
This man was giant-like in his proportions, and his powerful physique,
massive chest, and broad shoulders presented a marked contrast to the
slim, graceful figure of the Prince.
Hector was as wild in nature as he was in appearance. He was chief
of. a small yet savage clan, which, disdaining allegiance to the more
powerful clans, was constantly at war. Hector's whole life had been
passed amidst scenes of rapine and bloodshed. He was a* bloodthirsty as
the wolf, as cunning as the fox, as subtle as the serpent. He carried his
life in his hands, for all men, save those of his own clan, were against
him. He warred for what he was pleased to term his " rights." From
his earliest age he had been taught that power, wealth, and influence were
his birthright, but that this birthright had been stolen from him. By
whom it was not very clear, but at all events it was his special mission to
acquire these things either by fair means or foul. His name had come to
be a name of terror throughout Boss-shire, and even at the present day,
many an auld wife stills the crying of a fractious bairn by telling it that
if it does not cease she will call in Bed Hector. Ferocious, merciless, and
bloodthirsty, no wonder that he had come to be feared, for there was
something wolfish in his nature, and the wolves that prowled about the
mountains, and sneaked through the glens and valleys in search of prey
were not more hated than he. There was one singular trait, however, in
his character, and which in a large measure compensated for his otherwise
fierce and cruel instincts. This was nothing less than an unswerving
gentleness and kindness to women and children.
" I wage war with men," he was fond of saying, " and not with bairns
and women."
The result of this was that not a few women of the district had given
him shelter and food when he had been sorely pressed by his enemies,
and oftentimes those enemies were the husbands of the very women who
were protecting him.
Soon after the Princess Thyra had come to dwell on Isle Maree,
Hector had met her one day in company with some of the monks as they
were returning from one of the religious houses which stood in Glen
Docherty. Hector gazed upon the fair face of the Princess until he be-
came, as it were, entranced. She and the monks saw him, as he stood
beneath the shadow of an overhanging rock, and his coarse and wild'
appearance alarmed her so that they quickened their pace and hurried
50 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
away. Hector did not offer to follow them, but he continued to gaze
after the beautiful girl until she disappeared. Then he wandered away
slowly to the hills. He was thoughtful and silent, and from that moment
a change came over him. The face of the Princess haunted him. He
could never shut it out, and he began to dream that it was within the
region of possibility she might yet be his,. and at no distant date. Day
after day he waited in the same spot in the hope that he might again
meet her, but he waited in vain. Then a strange restlessness stole over
him, and unable longer to control his feelings he determined, in spite of
the superstitious awe with which he, in common with all the Highlanders,
regarded Isle Maree, to visit the island and endeavour to obtain an inter-
view with the woman who so to speak had enchanted him.
He went down to the edge of the loch opposite the island, and with
that unflinching boldness which was part of his nature, he plunged into
the dark waters and swam to the island. Dripping and exhausted after
his hazardous feat for it was a long distance, and the season being winter
the water was terribly cold he landed, much to the astonishment and
alarm of some of the monks who were busy in the garden of the monastery.
But to assure them of his peaceful intentions, Red Hector devoutly bowed
his knee and crossed himself. Then he drank of the water of the holy
well, and as a still more convincing proof of the peacefulness of his
mission, he drew a coin from his pouch and drove it into the money-tree.
This done, he approached one of the monks, who, from certain indications
in his dress, was superior to the rest, and removing his bonnet from his
massive head, which was covered with coarse, red hair, he bowed low,
and said
" Holy father, the unusual manner which I have taken to visit you
need cause you no alarm. I was unable to obtain a boat, and moved by
burning impatience I trusted myself to the waters. I come alone, there-
fore is my mission peace."
" Thou art welcome, my son," the monk replied, as he folded his arms
upon his breast, " as are all those who come to our sanctuary with good
intent. But what brings thee here in so unusual a manner?"
" What should bring me, father, save bright eyes and ruddy lips !
What should induce me to risk my life in the treacherous waters of the
loch save love !"
" Love !" the monk echoed in surprise, while his brow darkened with
a frown.
"Aye, even love. Dost think that my heart is stone? Rugged
and wild I am in appearance ; that I know, but I am not without feeling,
not yet dead to the influence of beauty and gentleness."
The monk seemed annoyed and confused, but after a pause he an-
swered, " But why comest thou here to tell me this?"
" Art thou so dull that thou canst not guess that I come to woo one
whose home is here even the Princess Thyra."
The monk started and looked at his colleagues, then turning to the
bold Hector, who stood shivering in the cold wind, he said, " Surely thou
art mad, my son, to dream of one who is so far above thee."
" Far above me !" Hector cried in a wrathful tone. "Love recognises
no degrees of rank or station, it levels all."
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 51
" Grant you that that is true," answered the monk. " Thou shouldst
not forget that the Princess is wedded to the Church, or at least until
such times as her father chooses to appoint her a husband."
" "What care I for her father," Hector exclaimed, as the passion glow
mounted into his swarthy face, for he could not bear to be thwarted,
and his self-possession was leaving him. " I have looked into her face,
and henceforth she and she only can be my light. Give me an oppor-
tunity to woo her, but even though you should oppose me I tell you this,
and the vow of Eed Hector was never yet broken I will possess her."
" Thou art saucy and insolent," the monk answered, " and let me tell
thee that the Princess Thyra is not for the likes of thee."
At this moment the Princess crossed the garden as she was on her
way to the little chapel. As he caught sight of her form, Hector was
moving towards her without noticing the monk's words, but the monk
caught him by the arm and held him back. Almost foaming with rage,
the Highlander raised his ponderous fist to strike the holy man, but quick
as thought the monk drew a small crucifix from his bosom, and holding
it above Hector's head, he exclaimed
" Away, thou man of crime and sin, or, by this symbol of holiness
and truth, thou shalt be cursed."
Hector recoiled in horror. Like all the Highlanders, he was very
superstitious, and the thought of being placed under a ban filled him with
a dreadful fear. In a few moments, however, he partly recovered himself.
The wolf had come back into his nature again, and all the gentleness had
died out. He drew his gaunt, powerful figure up, and while his keen
eyes flashed fire, he exclaimed
" The sanctity of this holy isle protects thee from my wrath, but thy
insolence and churlishness shall not go unpunished j and I swear at every
hazard to possess the Princess Thyra."
"Without another word he turned on his heel, and stalking down to
the water, he plunged in without a moment's hesitation, and swam away.
From the moment that Eed Hector left the island he was a changed
man, and his whole thought was of the Princess Thyra. Twice after that
he met her on the mainland in company with the monks as they re-
turned from their weekly visits to the religious houses which had been
established in the neighbouring glens. On each occasion he took the
opportunity to declare his love in the most impassioned language. But
the Princess turned a deaf ear to him, and told him that it would be
perfectly useless for him to hope that he could ever gain her hand. In
time he learned that she was betrothed to Prince Haco, and then the
man's nature seemed to become more savage, and he swore the most
terrible oath that he would be revenged on his rival.
The Prince was warned against Eed Hector, but he paid little heed to
the warnings, for he did not think it likely that this man would dare to
lift his hand against a scion of the Eoyal House of Denmark. As time
passed and nothing was heard or seen of Hector, Haco had almost for-
gotten him, until at last they stood face to face on that night when the
Prince returned from his interview with the Princess.
As the Prince looked upon the powerful savage before him, a momentary
fc.vr c.msed a snudder to pass over his frame, for he saw that a combat
52 THE CELTIC MAGAZISTE.
with such a foe would be all to his disadvantage. But Haco was
naturally a brave man, and the fear gave place to contempt and scorn.
" Say, i'ello\v," he cried, "what do you mean by this outrage, and why
do you try to make a target of my body for your arrows ?"
A withering smile wreathed itself around Hector's cruel mouth as he
made answer
" Canst thou ask such a question as that, seeing that thou hast just
left the Avomau who is dearer to me than my own life," he retorted
fiercely.
" And thinke.st thou that she would deign to notice such a savage
wolf as thou art ?" Haco asked scornfully. " Move from my path and let
me pass. Her very name is polluted by being uttered by thy foul lips."
" By the moon that shines in yonder heavens, these words shall cost
thee thy life," Hector cried, as like a tiger springing on its prey he sprang
at llaco's throat.
In point of physique no two men could have been more in opposition
than Haco and Hector, but what the Prince lacked in stature and build,
he made up by litheness and agility. His rapier was knocked from his
hand by the ugly rush of his auta-onist who had drawn his dirk and was
trying to lunge it into Haco's heart. The Prince saw the weapon gleam
in the moonlight. He kne\v that th\s half savage man was pitiless, and
that only the dumb stones and rocks and the whispering trees were there
to witness the death struggle. Help there was none. It was man to
man, and the right would only end when one or both were lying stark and
dead. Suddenly there came before the mental vision of the Prince the
fair and pitiful face of her who was far dearer to him than life. And as
he thought of her and the desolation into which she would be plunged if
he were slain, he seemed to be tilled with almost superhuman strength a
strength that was begotten by the energy of desperation, if not of despair.
He had seized the wrist of his foe, and held him with a tenacious grip
that the other could not shake off. With all his mighty strength Hector
was unwieldy and clumsy, whereas the Prince had been taught the art of
fence, and he felt that could he but possess himself of his fallen weapon
he could without difficulty place his foe h-ors da combat.
Locked in a deadly embrace the two men struggled like savage animals,
and in trying to get a better hold of his agile foe, Hector dropped his
dirk.
They were on equal terms now each man was unarmed and there is
little doubt that in the end Hector would have succeeded, by mere brute
force, in crushing the life out of his antagonist. But suddenly as they
reeled to and fro they both fell, Hector being uppermost. His strong
hands were round the Prince's throat, when the Prince cried
" Coward ! dastardly coward ! Would you destroy a defenceless and
unarmed man?"
For a moment Eed Hector paused as if weighing the words in his
brain. Then he rose, much to the other's surprise, and while his eyes
flashed and his lip quivered with passion, he answered
" Coward to your teeth. I am no coward, and I scorn to take advan-
tage of you. Hector of the Hills never yet struck an unarmed man.
Rise and take up your sword." As he spoke he picked up his dirk, and
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 53
grasping it savagely, lie stood on his guard and waited for the Prince to
regain his feet.
Struck by this manly and almost noble trait in Hector's character,
Haco as he rose said
" I gladly withdraw the epithet. You are no coward, but indeed
a brave man ; and instead of being enemies, we should be friends. I fear
thee not, and yet I say that we should not fight but part in peace."
Hector's face was scarlet with passion, and his eyes gleamed like a
wild cat's.
" Fool ! " he exclaimed, " why do you waste words ? I hate you," he
hissed between his clenched teeth " hate you," he repeated, with strong
vehemence, " for you are my rival. Take up your sword, or by the God
who made us, I will strike you-down where you stand."
" Can we not settle this matter any other way but by fighting ?" Haco
asked, still anxious to avoid bloodshed.
" No," growled Hector, " only one of us shall ever leave this spot
again alive."
"Without another word the Prince stooped and picked up bis rapier.
Not the shadow of a fear agitated him now. He felt on terms of equality
with his powerful foe, for he was a master in the use of the sword. He
cast one look up to the heavens. Perhaps a hasty prayer was passing
through his brain. The stars and moon were shining brilliantly. The
water of the loch was lapping the shore with a musical plash, and the
night wind stirred the trees into a strange and weird melody. Turning
his eyes from above, the Prince gave one hurried look across the dark
waters to where the holy isle lay steeped in purple shadow, and in whose
peaceful sanctuary his beloved perhaps slept and dreamed of him. In-
audibly he breathed her name, and the thought of her gave him a lion's
heart.
" On thy guard," he cried, as he grasped the handle of his rapier
with a grip of steel.
" Victory to him who draws first blood," growled Hector, as warily he
crept towards his antagonist, and watching his opportunity to spring.
For some moments the two men moved round and round each other like
watchful tigers. Then, with the quickness of thought, the Prince made
a sudden lunge, but the other sprang aside, and in an instant he got under
the Prince's guard, and aimed a terrific blow at his heart. He missed
his aim, however, but the dirk went through the fleshy part of the Prince's
arm, and first blood was drawn.
" Victory to him who draws, first blood," Hector had said, and now as
the Prince remembered the ominous words they seemed to have a fatal
significance. But he lost none of his courage. He knew too well now
that it was a fight to the death. He staggered for a moment, but quickly
recovering himself, and though the warm blood was spurting from the
wound, he darted forward and gashed the Highlander in the neck.
" Blood for blood," he cried exultingly.
Both men were now thoroughly aroused, and for some minutes it was
thrust and parry, parry and thrust. Twice did the Prince succeed in
wounding his foe, and once again the Highlander's dirk drank the royal
blood of Haco. But neither man was mortally wounded, and the sight
54 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE,
of the blood which covered them both only served to arouse them to
more desperate efforts. The fight became furious. The ground beneath
their feet was soaked with gore, and trampled into a pool. Each of the
combatants was desperately wounded and bleeding profusely ; and at last,
seizing an opportunity, when for a moment the Prince was off his guard,
Hector flew at him and both went down together. For a brief second
the Highlander's dirk flashed and gleamed in the moon's rays, and then
it descended and was sheathed in Haco's body.
The unfortunate Prince gave vent to a gurgling gasp, his body
quivered ; then all was still. Hector drew his weapon from the woxmd,
and wiped it on his plaid. Then he rose to his feet and listened. Not a
sound was to be heard save the wash of the waters, and the sighing of the
wind in the trees. The Prince was motionless, as motionless as the rocky
boulders that were strewn around. The Highlander spurned the body
with his foot, and then with a grunt of satisfaction he walked hastily
away, and was lost in the darkness of the night.
(To be Continued.)
A HIGHLAND EXILE'S DEATH.
'Twas in the far Canadian wilds, where Frazer's waters flow,
And foot of man the solitude can scarce be said to know
(Save when, like shadow through the glades, the wary Indian strays
With stealthy step, which snapping twig nor rustling leaf betrays) :
That, as the glow of day began in gloom of eve to melt,
Two hunter forms beside a third in heartfelt sorrow knelt.
All three were clad in backwood guise, in trophies of the chase ;
Each was of rugged, well-knit frame, and weather-beaten face ;
Each showed the spare but sinewy strength begot of woodland toil,
While features hard and piercing eye spoke sons of Scotland's soil
Who long had left the glens o'erhung by proud Ben Aven's crest
To seek a freeman's dwelling 'mid the forests of the West.
Lithsome-limbed and supple-sinewed, shoulder-broad and brisket deep,
Such they were as tyrants banish, but true statesmen love to keep ;
Such as glen and strath and corrie in the glorious mountain land
Hear (or reared, the while I knew it 'neath the gallant Gordon's hand) ;
Such as changed in hue their tartans, as they stemmed the battle's flood,
With the life-stream of the foeman, and their own blue Highland blood 1
Such they were as women worship, not for features' sake alone,
Not for stalwart form and stately, muscle hard, and bendless bone
(Though for these they stood unequalled), but for fearless heart and true,
Kindly glance, and dauntless bearing, worn beneath the bonnet blue :
Such as ever made the staunchest serried ranks of France to reel,
Nodding plume and waving tartan charging with the Highland steel.
Oh ! ye gallant sons of Albyn ! Oh ! ye clansmen of the North !
Cursed the memory of the traitors who sent you from Scotland forth;
Thrice accursed short sighted statesmen who could give to alien men
Power to drive you from your dwellings in each hero-nursing glen !
Had you stayed the foe might threaten, diplomats succeed or fail
Britain still could count on Scotland's " Clann nan Gaidheal 'nguaillibh cheil\"
Now, alas ! where look we for them ? Almest vainly in the land
Where they mustered at the beckon of Jane Maxwell's lily hand 1*
* The Duchess of Gordon, who raised the 92d Regiment,
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 55
If we ask for Highland soldiers, nought but memories give reply !
Why should this be ? Ah ! let every mountain echo answer " Why ? "
Memories only ! God we thank thee that such memories yet remain
Treasured in our Nation's annals, should they never live again !
Better heritage I deem it than a Howard's titled blood,
To be kindred to those heroes slumb'ring 'neath the foreign sod !
Better te be named Macgregor than Plantagenet or Guelph !
Nobler patriarchal Cluny, than the tawdry Prince of Pelf 1
Leveson-Gower ! shout thy slogan ! scatter golden bribes abroad
Through the straths where gallant clansmen once in many a band abode !
Whence at slightest note of danger to our Highland land and thee
Claymores would have flashed in thousands 'gainst the common enemy !
Leveson-Gower, read the lesson largely writ in many a glen
Desert straths with deer for tenants, and a lack of Highland men !
Slouching keepers found in plenty somewhat skilled indeed in killing,
But the Cockney's tip is relished better than Victoria's shilling !
Live a father to thy people ! love them better than thyself !
Surely thou of all men living may'st make sacrifice of pelf.
What to thee a banker's balance if it cost thee love of men !
Fill thy straths with Highland manhood, people thickly every glen !
So thy name shall live immortal, writ in Love's unfading lines
On the page of Scotland's story ever green as Scotland's pines.
Fading as the sunlight faded, Donald's life-light waned apace :
Death's grey shadow fell (yet softly) on his ruddy manhood's face !
Thus he spoke (the words O read them, as he spoke, with bated breath
For a hardly-broken silence best befits thy presence, Death 1
Only ear of love can gather murmured words from panting breast
Soon to hush in that long silence which God calls his promised rest !)
" Hector 1 thou wert ever strongest of us three that left our home,
Far from bonnie Scotland's heather, in a foreign land to roam ;
Therefore, carry home my message nay, now weep not, be a man !
Loving hearts await its hearing in our home in fair Stratha'an !
Tell my mother that she tarries for my coming home again,
In yon dear ben-sheltered clachan where we parted, all in vain :
Hector's smile will greet her welcome, Evan's coming make her glad,
But, though Donald be not with them, she must not be therefore sad.
Tell her that no open foeman made her boy disgrace his name ;
Tell her lurking treason's weapon may bring death but never shame !
Tell her that I died in honour, and in peace with God and man
(Here he lisped his childhood's prayer : sunset oft resembles dawn !)
Tell her to be kind to Maggie Maggie Gordon of the Dee,
Whose fair face (God so has willed it) I shall never live to see 1
Bear my blessing to the maiden, had I lived, I would have wed,
But a plighted troth must never bind the living to the dead !
Tell dear Maggie that her tokens lie with me where I repose,
Death's strong hand that reft my life, could not dissever ma from those !
Tell the minister I parted, strong in faith on Him I love,
Christ, whose mercy he encouraged my young heart to seek and prove.
He'll be pleased, I know : his ceunsels often guided me in youth.
Now I look to meet him yonder, where abides the God of Truth :
Now the Master will receive me dying, for He died for me.
Kiss me, brothers 1 Now 'tis daybreak, daybreak of Eternity.
Lay me 'neath the oak-trees' shadow, though they grow here in the West,
They recal the birk-trees" murmur in Stratnaven:" then came rest.
A. MACGREGOB, EOSE.
NOTE. Every one who loves the Highlands and Highlanrlers will rejoice to know
that His Grace the Duke of Sutherland is adopting the course indicated as the true and
worthy one in the above Hues (which were written some time ago), and that he is show-
ing a noble example to all Highland chiefs, la a few years there will be no lack of
ready aoldiers in Sutherland. A. M. B,
56 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
MAEY MORRISON.
MANY years since, there lived on a small farm at the foot of the famous
Coolin Hills, a middle-aged man, Donald Morrison. His land not
being well adapted for growing corn, he devoted his attention to the rear-
ing and breeding of cattle. Being exceedingly prudent, careful, and
of inexpensive habits, he was looked upon by his poorer neighbours as
a rich man. He married somewhat late in life, a middle-aged woman,
who, like himself, had saved some little money. They had only one
child, a daughter, Mary, who grew up a beautiful, sweet-tempered
girl, the very reverse to her parents in disposition. She was as frank and
open-handed as they were reserved and pemirious. Donald, though
totally uneducated himself, was shrewd enough to see the benefits of
having his daughter well taught in fact the old man's one ambition was
to see his child well married, and " living like a lady," as he expressed
it. Accordingly, he spared no expense in giving her the best education
the district afforded. At the time of our story tea was only lately intro-
duced into the Highlands, and was only taken as a luxury even by
the higher classes. The art of making and serving out tea to company
was therefore looked upon as an essential part of a young lady's education,
and a sure sign of culture and good breeding. Donald, anxious that his
daughter should possess this new accomplishment, went to Broadford and
waited upon the factor's wife, who was an English lady, and, of course, well
versed in this as well as other ladylike qualities, and begged her, as a great
favour, to take Mary under her charge for a few weeks, and initiate her
into the mystery of tea-making, he to supply tea and sugar for the pur-
pose. The lady kindly consented, and after a short stay in the factor's
house Mary returned home, much improved by her intercourse with the
English lady. Donald was so pleased that he laid in a stock of the then
expensive article, and invited his friends at stated intervals to partake of
the new beverage, and the old man felt well repaid while watching the
grace and ladylike ease with which his daughter did the honours of the
tea table. To give the finishing polish Donald determined upon sending
Mary to a boarding school at Oban, kept by a maiden lady of the name
of Curry. Here Mary soon became a favourite with teachers and pupils,
and grew into a most beautiful and accomplished young woman. She
had been in Oban about eighteen months when the following occurrence
which influenced her whole after life took place :
One fine afternoon she and a few of the other eldest pupils were
allowed to go for a walk to the sea side, near the ruins of Dunolly
Castle. While amusing themselves about the old walls they came upon
a quiet secluded little creek, with a clean pebbly beach, quite the place to
invite a plunge in the clear sea below. No sooner did one suggest
this than all agreed. The bottom a few feet out was full of treacherous
deep holes. Two of the girls were soon in. One of them more daring
than her companion went too far, at once lost her footing, and sank. The
other screamed, and drew Mary's attention to them. Half-dressed as she
was she jumped in to save the drowning girl, who grasped her so tightly
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 57
that she was unable to help her or save her own life. They both sank
apparently to rise no more. At that moment a shout was heard from
the top of the bank above them. The next moment a young man rushed
and dived into the spot where he saw the girls sink, and in a few mo-
ments had them on shore, where he used every means to restore animation.
He soon had the satisfaction of seeing his efforts crowned with success,
and immediately sent some of the girls to Oban for aid, while he, with
the help of the others, continued to attend to the sufferers. Eubbing and
drying Mary's head and face, she slowly opened her eyes, surveyed him
from head to foot, and, observing that he was wet all over, she compre-
hended the situation. She gazed into his face with such a look of heart-
felt thanks a look into which her whole soul seemed to be concentrated.
It reached and penetrated into the young man's heart, and left an im-
pression there that years could not efface. Miss Curry was soon on the
scene with a conveyance. She acknowledged the bravery of the young
man, and invited him to call at her house next day, that she might in a
more formal manner thank him for saving the lives of her pupils. He
did so, and found Mary recovered sufficiently to meet him, while the other
girl was not so well, although out of danger. In course of conversation he
informed them that his name was Robert Grahame, and that he was mate of
a schooner belonging to Greenock, which had put into the bay the day
before to repair some slight damage she received on a sunken rock
coming through the sound of Mull, and he fortunately happened to be
strolling near the ruins at the time the accident took place. While taking
leave of them he asked permission to call again to enquire for the young
ladies he had been the means of saving, should he happen to be that way.
Miss Curry, as he thought rather dryly, gave her consent. Looking into
Mary's face at parting, her piercing glance sent another thrill to his heart.
If he had known and understood the lines written by a young Skyeman
in a Gaelic song to his Lowland sweetheart, who had no Gaelic, while he
had but a scanty knowledge of English, the words might well express hia
feelings:
Gu ro raise an toiseach narach,
3' gun a Ghailig aic ach gann
Ach bha canain aig a suilean
A thnbhairt riuui gu'n dull a chall.
Young Grahame had served his time on board one of the ships belong-
ing to Pollock & Gilmour, a firm which had a number of ships employed
in the timber trade between Greenock and North America. From the
first day he went to sea he was noted for his attention to duty and
obedience to authority. He always carried with him a few useful and
practical books, in the study of which he generally spent his leisure hours
when most of his shipmates wasted their health and money in folly on
shore. By his steady habits and intelligence he was early promoted to
the post of first mate of the vessel he still sailed in. Grahame was now
about twenty-three years of age the only child and sole support of a
widowed mother. After his visit to Oban Mary was never out of his mind.
He was fully convinced that she was the daughter of some powerful High-
land chief far above his position in life. He knew and felt that he sincerely
loved her, and, like a plucky tar as he was, he thus reasoned with him-
58 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
self " She is too pure aiid noble ever to be brought down to iny level, I
must then raise myself up to hers. She is too young to marry for a few
years yet, aiid for her sake I will forthwith set about the elevating process,
even should I never see her again. I shall be proud of any effort I may
attempt worthy of her exalted mind and position." The impression left
on his heart by her last look was doubtless a powerful incentive to his
noble resolution. He at once so arranged, with his mother's consent,
that instead of going to sea that winter he should place himself under a
master who kept classes to teach navigation to young seamen, and prepare
them to take charge of foreign-going ships. Such was Grahame's diligence
that at the end of the session he was considered superior to many who
already had command. In the spring of the year his late owner, Coun-
cillor Maccallum, of Greenock, gave him command of a handy barque,
which was then loading for New York. On his return, in due course,
his owner was so well pleased with his conduct, both as a seaman and his
aptness for transacting business, that he presented him with a valuable
gold watch and appendages, and promoted him to the command of a larger
vessel, a new full -rigged ship, called the Glencairn, as fine a ship as the
port could boast of, and one which many older and more experienced
captains would be proud to command. Grahame had now made up his
mind to visit Oban and see Mary privately, for he longed to inform her
of his new and improved prospects. For this purpose he asked and
obtained leave for a few days, while the ship was being got ready for sea.
Arriving at Oban, to his great disappointment, he found that Mary had
gone home a few weeks before. Miss Curry was cold and distant, and
refused him Mary's address. He returned and began his prepara-
tions to sail, and getting the Glencairn out to the Tail-of-the-Bank. In
a couple of days he weighed anchor, a fresh breeze blew, but in a few
hours a dead calm succeeded. The tide set in strongly from the south.
At night-fall a hazy darkness settled upon the sea. Captain Grahame
became apprehensive. They were not far enough south to clear the
Island of lona and the back of Mull. His fears proved only too well
founded, the noble ship grazed on a sunken rock, but, fortunately, the
sea being calm, she sustained but little damage. The men living on the
coast, seeing the ship in danger, came out in their boats to aid him, and
they succeeded in getting her off. Grahame, wishing to ascertain the
extent of damage done before proceeding further on his voyage, with the
aid of the natives, got her round to Tobermory harbour. Here he found,
on examination, that the damage consisted of the tearing and stripping
off some sheathing which his own carpenters could repair in a day or
two. In the evening Grahame walked to the north of the village to
obtain a view of the surrounding scene. Eetuming to the village, Avhen
about half way back, he observed a figure walking on slowly and pensively
before him. lie instantly stood still and looked intently at the object.
What was it that should have set his heart abeating so fast ? There,
undoubtedly, was the never-to-be-forgotten form of Mary so deeply en-
graved upon his heart. He walked quicker, half doubting the instincts
of his anxious heart. The figure before him, hearing the sounds of foot-
steps behind, half turned round as if for the purpose of stepping aside.
Seeing him. she involuntary stood still where she was, grasping at the side
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 59
of the bank to keep her from falling. Poor girl, she had been thinking
of him and wondering where he might be at that very moment. Grahame
rushed forward, clasped his fainting Mary in his strong arms, and carried
her to a green grassy spot, a little off the path they had been walking on,
laid her gently down against a heather-covered bank, his arm supporting
her shoulders. She soon recovered, and Grahame had now the joyful
assurance that every throb of that dear heart of hers beat only for him-
self. He gently lifted her head to enquire as to what fortunate circum-
stance he owed the happiness of so unexpectedly meeting her there. Her
only answer was to cling to him closer, as if afraid some evil destiny
would again separate them. He pressed her the closer to him, and
whispered his great love in her ear, to which she responded by nestling
the more confidingly in his bosom. He again asked what had brought
her to Tobermory. Pure, young, and inexperienced now that the first
breach was made in the natural barrier of her maidenly reserve she told
him the simple truth, substantially as follows : " A young gentleman
farmer belonging to Lorn, a distant relative of Miss Curry's, paid them a
visit at Oban. He was seemingly smitten by her charms, took Miss Curry
into his confidence, and besought her influence in his favour with her
young pupil. When her teacher spoke to Mary about this young gentle-
man, she was astonished to find that she felt no interest whatever in his
professions of love for her. Miss Curry enlarged on his position and
means, urging the wisdom and prudence of accepting him as her husband
should he make the offer. Mary would not give her hand without her
heart, and her heart was already given to her sailor lad. Her teacher had
suspected as much, but never dreamed that a sentimental and romantic
notion of that kind could weigh a feather's weight in the scale, when a
well-known wealthy young man was put in the other. Mary's persistence
in refusing the young farmer as her lover turned her teacher's usual kind-
ness into something akin to contempt for her stupidity. The girl's posi-
tion became anything but comfortable. She at last told Miss Curry that
she meant to go home. Miss Curry wrote to Mary's father, giving the
history of her refusal of a match, which many young women of the best
families would be proud to accept. She also hinted the apparent reason
of the refusal. On Mary's arrival at home both father and mother made
her more miserable than before. Still, she stood firm in her resolve. It
was, however, very hard on such a mind as her's, who, from infancy, had
been noted for her deference to the wishes of her parents. To stand
proof against their judgment now grieved her much. She dreaded the
idea of the possibility of giving way to them on a matter so important to
her future happiness. She regretted coming home, and wished for a
situation of some kind suited to her acquirements, and be set free from
the reproaches continually dinned into her ears. As if in response to her
wishes word came from the factor's wife at Broadford that a lady in
Tobermory wanted a young person as governess for her two daughters.
Mary applied for the situation, and in due course received an answer offer-
ing the place, and wishing her to enter on her duties as soon as possible."
Grahame, on learning this, became alarmed lest in his absence she
might be prevailed upon to obey her parents and friends. If he could
only get her to consent to their being married now and keep her situation
60 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
till his return, he would then see that no one would have it in his power
to annoy her as his wife. So he urged her to become his wife before he
left, and thus put it out of the power of any one to compel her to marry
another.
Mary did not know what to say. She felt she had an eloquent advo-
cate within her own bosom to plead her lover's cause, yet she was not
totally blind to the questionable prudence of the step urged upon her.
She would willingly entrust herself to his keeping, and bear any hardship
for his sake, but she knew her parents would not consent, even if there
was time to consult them. Besides, if they got married where they were
it could not be long kept a secret, and would only result in more trouble.
This suggested the idea of Gretna Green to Grahame. He told her that
he expected to be home in four or five months at the longest, and if they
went to a distance no one would know anything about it. So well did
he plead his cause that before they reached the town she had given her
consent. She knew nothing of Gretna Green or of its famous marriages.
All she knew about marriage was, that it was usually done in the parents'
house in Skye or at the manse, by the parish minister. It was arranged
that she was to meet him next forenoon, at a point a few miles south of the
town, where he would have a boat ready to take her to the mainland.
True to her promise, she was at the place appointed in good time, where
she was received by her lover. They immediately set off, and so favour-
able was the wind, that early next morning they landed at Troon in
Ayrshire, from which town they started in a hired chaise for Gretna
Green. The boatmen were to await their return. Arriving at Spring-
field, near Gretna, they were soon married, and re-entering their convey-
ance made all haste back. To their great annoyance a violent gale, ac-
companied by heavy rain, sprung up during the night. It was well on
in the morning before they arrived at Troon, and the boatmen
refused to venture out to sea with an open boat in such weather. There
was nothing for the young couple but to make themselves as comfortable
as possible during their forced stay in the place. They decided upon
going to the best inn, and the boatmen made themselves happy
with the aid of refreshments provided by Grahame. Towards evening of
the next day the wind lowered sufficiently to induce the men to try it.
Though still rather high it was favourable, and they sailed,
running at great speed. Arriving at Mull, Captain Grahame found the
Glencairn ready for sea, his chief mate having pushed on the repairs in
his absence. The young husband at the next interview with his wife,
noticing that she took particular interest in an antique seal attached to
his watch, undid and gave it to her, as a keepsake until his return,
along with a sum of money, which she was very unwilling to take, but
he insisted, saying, that if she did not need it he would take it back
when he returned. He promised to write to her at her present address
when he arrived out, she, at the same time, promising to keep their
marriage strictly secret until he returned and took her home as his
wedded wife. The ship sailed next morning with a favourable fresh
breeze, which soon carried her out to the open sea.
The young wife had to smother her feelings in the presence
of others as best she could; thoughts of the step she had taken
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 61
preyed on her mind, not that she regretted connecting her destiny
with the man of her choice, but the dread of it oozing out before
the return of her husband. Thus a couple of months wore away \
every blast of wind she heard made her so nervous that the people of the
house noticed it. Her health had given way so much that the
lady advised her to go home for a few weeks, and to return when she got
stronger. Much against her inclination she went. When her parents
saw her emaciated and altered condition, so much did disappointed am-
bition rankle in their breasts that it killed much of the natural smypathy
and tenderness usually existing in the bosoms of most mothers for their
ailing and suffering offspring. If her mother had shown that sympathy
and motherly tenderness which the poor child so earnestly desired and so
much needed, it is more than probable she would have taken her into her
confidence at once, but when she found that every effort she made to enlist
the maternal feelings in her favour, she was repelled by the too common
and senseless expression of " You'r well served for your folly," her grief
and trouble fell back with double force upon her already over burdened
heart. Let the worldly and strong-minded mother beware she does not drive
a sensitive and virtuous child to ruin by such unnatural conduct, and
although the rigidly prudent may not approve of Mary's actions, she
was blessed with a strong and abiding principle that carried her, pure and
unspotted, through all her difficulties to the end. She occasionally went
out in the gloaming for fresh air ; her only companion in these walks being
the seal her husband had given her, and often, when too dark to see it,
she would kiss it for him. At length her mother began to suspect some-
thing particular was the matter, and Mary, when taxed about it, did not
deny that she was soon to become a mother. When questioned as to the
paternity of the child she invariably replied that he was her husband, but
who or what he was she would not upon any account disclose. In strict
faithfulness to her promise she, perhaps foolishly, withheld all further
information. Her old and now distracted father upbraided her for
the disgrace brought upon him by bringing a nameless child into the
world. He had the mortification of seeing all his fine castles in the
air tumbling down about his ears. If Mary's position was uncomfortable
before it now became unbearable. That she was insensible to the awk-
wardness of her situation herself no one who knew her could suppose. She
could not help it now. She had to bear it as best she could. I have no
intention, nor indeed can I describe the tortures her sensitive heart suffered.
The only gleam of sunshine which now and again illumed the darkness of
her despair was the estimation in which she held the worth and merits of
her husband ; her soul would lise at times above her sufferings with the con-
soling assurance that he was worth all that trouble and more, and that he
would dispel all the darkness when he came home. Time came and went
that a letter should reach her. Neighbouring gossips began to whisper
suspicious hints about old Donald's grand lady of a daughter, which,
when they reached his ears, made him forget any remnant of paternal
feeling he yet felt for her. She now avoided meeting him whenever she
could, and only wished she was away among strangers rather than bear
the looks and cruel taunts of her parents.
At this time a boat came from Fort- William with timber for a
62 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
house that was "being huilt in the place. Mary watched the men from
her window as they unloaded the cargo. One evening after the craft
was taken out to anchor right opposite the house, she observed two of
the men coming ashore in their small boat for water, and while filling
their casks at the well she slipped down to where they were. She found
out that they were to start for home about two in the morning. She
offered them a pound note for her passage. They agreed to send the small
boat for her before they sailed. Mary quietly employed the intervening
hours in packing up her clothing, with which, and all her money, she
went down to meet the men at the appointed hour. They soon had her
on board and away, hours before any one was astir in her father's house.
On the morning of the second day they passed through the Sound of
Mull, and rounding the Island of Lismore Mary overheard some of the
crew mentioning old Dunolly Castle. She asked if they were near it,
and one of them pointing in its direction, the sight of it, ever so dim,
awakened thoughts and memories in her mind deeply interesting to
her. She soon, however, lost sight of its outlines as the little vessel
stretched along in the direction of Ballachulish and the historic Glencoe.
Towards evening they landed at Fort- William. Mary went to one of the
inns for the night, intending in the morning to seek out some quiet
retreated village where she might rest for a week or two, and think over
what she was to do. Before retiring to rest she understood there was a
man at the inn who had driven with a party that day from Fort- Augustus
and was going back the next day empty. Mary sought him out, and
arranged for a sum of money to be carried in the conveyance to that
place. In early morning they started. Arriving near the little village
the chaise stopped. Mary had to alight and carry her luggage,
the driver knowing that if he drove her to the inn he would
have to give up to his employer the fare she paid him. Stiff and
fatigued with the long drive, Mary walked along to the scattered
houses. Passing some she observed standing at the door of a neat
cottage, a kindly-faced, elderly, lady-like woman ; she went up to her
and asked if she could direct her to a respectable quiet family where she
could have a room for a few weeks, the rent for which she was prepared
to pay in advance if the place suited. The good lady looked earnestly
and feelingly in Mary's face, observing she was weak and wearied,
scarcely able with her burden to stand where she was. She kindly asked
the stranger to step in and rest herself. The lady was a Mrs Cameron,
the widow of an officer of the 93d Highlanders who had been killed in
battle, and, though a native of the North of England, she made choice of
the country of her late husband to live in with her family, all of whom
were now, except two daughters, grown up to womanhood, who kept
their mother in comparative comfort by their industry as dressmakers,
aided by a small allowance from Government on account of her husband's
services. Mary's heart warmed to the kind and motherly woman ; her
looks of sympathy and pity had such an effect upon her that she told her
some of her history, and the cause of her being a wanderer from her own
home as she saw her, while her artless candour and pleading looks
at once won the heart of the noble-minded woman. She felt it would be
a crime to send the young creature away unprotected and inexperienced, as
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 63
she evidently was, to more misery among strangers who might not understand
her case, nor care what became of her. The lady then went in where
her daughters were at work, told them of the stranger and her position,
and that, if they agreed, she meant to give her a room for a few
weeks. They at once consented, and when Mrs Cameron told Mary she
might stay with them her heart filled, she rose from her seat, and flinging
her arms round the neck of the compassionate lady, as if she were her
mother, she sobbed out her almost silent thanks. She was introduced to
the daughters, and, after getting some refreshment, was chatting away
with them as if they were old friends. She was not long there when the
kindness and attention she received from this loving family in a great
measure renewed her strength of mind and body, and, being a good and
ready hand at the needle, she very soon made herself useful and aided
them with their work. In about three months after her coming there
she was delivered of a fine healthy boy, who was called Robert, after his
father. Naturally her anxiety about her husband was increased by the
birth of her child. She got one of the sisters to write to Greenock
enquiring if any word had been received of the Glencairn, to which a
reply came that all hope of the vessel's safety had been given up.
This was hard on the young mother, but she made every effort to bear
the distress calmly for the sake of her infant. Her kind friend,
Mrs Cameron, proved a judicious adviser in this crisis, having had ex-
perienced the same heavy bereavement herself.
All this time Mary had not heard from Skye, or how her parents had
acted on her flight becoming known. If ever the consequences of un-
natural harshness and unfeeling conduct recoiled back upon its authors it
was in the case of old Donald Morrison and his wife. After every search
and enquiry were made in vain for their daughter, it was concluded she
had made away with herself. No one imagined that the Fort- William
boat had anything to do with her departure. All the neighbours had
called the old couple murderers to their faces. The now lonely pair
felt so disgusted with themselves and all around them, that in their old
age they resolved to turn all their eifects into cash and emigrate to
America. In three months time they were on their way to the new
world. They had plenty of means to keep them in comfort there or at
home more indeed than hundreds who left Skye before and since, would
consider a fortune to start the world afresh with. But in their case, sincere
worshipers of Mammon as they were, their gold gave them no happiness.
There was a worm gnawing at their hearts that would not die while life
and memory lasted. Their daughter knew nothing of these movements,
she needed no addition to her grief. When Mary got strong she devoted
all the time she could spare from the cares of her infant to helping her
young friends in their labours when pressed for time. Both mother and
daughters became so fond of her and her child that they would not
willingly part with her. The eldest sister had occasion to visit Inverness.
She there met a lady from Skye who told her the melancholy fate of a
young woman she knew, who was supposed to have committed suicide,
and that her parents had gone to Canada. Miss Cameron, although she
suspected who the young person was, did not say she knew anything of
her whereabouts. On her return home she told Mary what she heard,
64 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
which made her cling the more earnestly to her boy as the only one now
left of her kin, and so far as the health of her child and the kind-
ness of her friends could make her happy, she was so. But the void in
her affectionate heart, caused by the loss of her husband, nothing
on earth could fill. At times, when tracing the lineaments of the
father's face in that of his child, she would burst out into tears about the
cruelty of the fate that sundered them ; then she would check herself for
murmuring against the over-ruling of a wise though hidden Providence.
She remained at Fort- Augustus for three years, when Mrs Cameron told
her that her eldest daughter was going to get married, and that her hus-
band was going to stay with them in the house, and would require the
room she occupied. This was a fresh blow to poor Mary, who looked up
to and loved her friend more than a mother. It was grievous to them
all to part ; the daughters learned to love her as a sister. Mrs Cameron,
with her usual motherly forethought, had previously written to a lady of
her acquaintance residing in Badenoch, an officer's widow like herself,
knowing she wanted an educated person as attendant and companion,
recommending a young friend of her's. The lady agreed to engage Mary
on Mrs Cameron's testimonials of fitness and character. At the same
time her friend found a person to take charge of the boy, where his mother
could see him at stated times. Mary parted with her child and her
friends with a heavy heart, and entered upon her new duties, which she
found on a few weeks experience to be all she could wish for. She soon
became a favourite with the lady, having found her not only attentive
and faithful, but much superior in culture and acquirements to most
persons aspiring to such a position as Mary now held in the family. She
was there about seven months, when the lady's son, an officer in the
Guards, came home on leave of absence. Mary could not avoid coming
in contact with him at times. She was grieved to notice that he paid her
rather too free and particular attention. She took no notice of it at first,
but seeing her coldness had no deterring effect upon him, she complained
to his mother about it, which occasioned a stormy quarrel between mother
and son. The result was that Mary at once gave up her place, went for her
boy, and with him made her way to Inverness, from there took pas-
sage in a sloop to Leith, and from there made her way to Glasgow, where
she took lodgings, meantime looking out for a situation. For three
months she could not hear of a place to suit her. This enforced
idleness drained away most of the money she brought with her.
She had heard of a place as upper nurse in a family in Ayrshire. She
went there and was engaged. The wages were but small, but she took
it in the hopes that something better would soon turn up. She had to
put her boy out to board again with a woman in Saltcoats, a little
town on the sea side. She was but a month or so in the place when her
boy took the measles, which turned out to be a severe case. She saw
him as often as she could, and spent nearly all the little means she had
left on medical attendance and medicine. The lady had been informed of
the motive of her frequent visits to Saltcoats, and the nature of the child's
disease, and discharged poor Mary from her situation for fear she might
carry the infection to her own children.
(To be Continued.}
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 65
AN SEILLEAN AGUS A' CHUILEAG.
o
Air maduinn chiuin 's a' cheiteau thlath,
Gach doir' us crann us gleann fo bhlath,
Bha 'n smeorach agus eoin nan speur,
Le 'n luinneig bhinn ac' air gach ge"ig,
Na laoigh 's na h-uain a' leuui le f6nn,
A' ruagail mu gach preas us torn,
Us braon de'n driuchd air bharr gacli fuoirn',
A' dealradh air an cinn mar 5r.
Bha cuileag sgiathach fnaoin gun cheill,
'Ga cluiche fein ri blaths na grein',
I 'null 'sa nail, i sios us suas,
Gun dragh, gun churain, no gun ghruaim.
Bha' seillean stiallach, ciallach, c6ir,
A' falbh a chomhachadh a 16 in,
Ghlaodh a' chuileag " ciod e 'n sgeula?"
'S labhair iad mar so ri 'ch&le.
A' CHUILEAG.
" Nach ann ort 'tha 'n drip an comhnuidh?
Fuirich tiota learn ag comhradh,
Ciod an toirbh' 'tha dhuit 's an t-saoghal,
'Ga do mharbbedh fein le saothair?
Bho mhoch gu dubh, bho bheinn gu traigh,
Cha 'n fhag thu cluaran, dris, no r6s,
Nach toir thu greiseag air an deoth'l."
" Seall thu mis' an so cho e^bhinn,
'Danns' an gathan caoin na gr^ine ;
'S cha 'n 'eil mi uair no trath gun 16n,
Ged nach 'eil mil agam an st6r ;
Ma thig am fuachd, 's an geamhradh gann,
Cha dean mi ullachadh roimh 'n am,
Thigeadh uair us am na h-eiginn,
Cha ghabh mi dragh dheth gus an fheudar."
AN SEILLEAN.
" A chreutair amaidich gun gh6,
Gur beag' tha' ghliocas 'n a do ghlolr ;
Ged' tha thu 'n diugh 's do chupan Ian,
Cha mhair an saibhreas sin ach gearr :
Thig doinionn shearbh us geamhradh garbh,
A bheir do sholasan air falbh,
Cha 'n fhaigh thu blaths air feadh nan gleann,
Cha tog a' ghrian ach farm a ceann."
66 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
" Gach r6s' tlia' sgeadaclmdh nam bruach,
Rheir reodhtachd fhu;ii ;iii- falbh an gruag ;
Cha chluinn thu smcoi.uui air gach geig,
Cha 'n fhaic thu uain a' ruith 's a' leu in ;
Bidh mis' an sin gu seasgair blath,
'S a' bhothan bheag a dhealbli mo lamh ;
Cha bhi mi 'n taing aon neach fo'n ghrcin
A' sealbhachadh mo shaoithreach fein."
" Bidh tns an sin 'n a d' dheoiridh truagh,
A' dol mu'n cuairt gun dreach gun tuar,
'S tu leis a ghort a' faotainn bhais,
An tuill 's an uinneagan an sas,
Thu air an dearie anns gach ait',
Gun mhath dhuit fein, gun tlachd do chach,
Sin an doigh a chleachd do shinnsir,
'S doigh nach dean an sliochd a dhiobradh."
A' CHUILEAG.
" Bu trie do shaothair fe"in gun bhuaidh,
Ged' tha thu '11 diugh a' deanamh uaill,
A'm bothan beag a dhealbh do lamh,
'S e air a leagadh sios gu lar ;
A' mhil, a choisinn thu gu cruaidh
A' falbh a' dranndan mu gach bruaich,
Aig each a' stigh gu h-ait 'g a h-ol,
Is tusa' muigh gun tigh, gun Ion."
" Ach 's lionmhor iad 'tha dheth do sheers',
'Tha 'deanamh uaill a meud an stoir,
Bho 'n saothair ghoirt cha ghabh iad tamh,
A' carnadh suas gun f hios co dha ;
Bu trie do shinnsir fein ri fuaim,
An cuid 's an ionnihas 'g a thoirt uath ;
Ei rusgadh ghath 's a tarruinn lann,
'S an tigh 'g a leagadh sios mu'n ceann."
" Ach mheas mi f^in 's e sin mo ghnaths
Na 'm faighinn idir cosg an traith,
Gu 'm b' fhearr dhomh subhachas us ceol,
An uine^bheag a bhios mi beo,
No ged a gheibhinn saibhlean Ian,
Gun f hois gun slochaint air an sgath,
Oir 's e mo dhochas us mo chreud,
Gu'm faigh gach latha Ion da fein."
AN SEILLEAN.
" Ah ! 's duillich learn nach tusa h-aon
'Tha 'beathachadh air plaosgan faoin,
'Tha 'gabhail fasgaidh fo gach sgleo,
Le beatha dhiomhanaich mar cheo,
THE CELTIC MAGAZIKE. 67
An uin' a' ruitli gun niluith gun fheum,
Cha 'n fhag iad cliu no ainm 'n an deign,
'S cha d' thug iad geill do'n duine ghlic
A dhearbh nach deanair gniomh fo 'n lie."
" Tha mise mar a bha thu 'g radh,
Bho mhocli gu dubh, bho bheinn gu traigh,
Ach 's iomadh ros a ni mi 'dheoth'l
Bho 'm bheil a' mhil an deigh a h-ol ;
Gidheadh cha 'n fhas mo mhisneach fann,
A' saothrachaclh bho am gu am,
Oir chreid mi riamh 's i sin an f hirinn
Gu 'n tig toradh math a dlchioll."
" Cha robh mi riamh 'n am' throm air each
Cha mho a bhraid 110 ghoid mo lamh,
'S cha bhi mo Ion ri m' bheo an e"is,
Ma dh' f hagar agam mo chuid f6in,
Ach ma thig namhaid orm gu teann,
Ma spuiuneas e mi fein 's'mo chlann,
Cha d' chuir e comhdach riamh ruu cheann,
Am fear nach tamiuinn ris mo lann."
" Is beag no mor g'am bi ar neart,
Ma ni sinn leis an ni 'tha ceart,
Ar buadhan biodh iad lag no treun,
Ma chuireas sinn iad sin gu feum,
Cha tuig thu mar a dh' f hasas earn,
Le clach a thilgeadh ann a ghnath,
'S e braonaibh faoin' a lion an cuan,
Is duslach min gach beinn mu 'n cuairt."
" Diiisg suas ma ta us tog ort greann,
Bi saothreach f had 's a gheibh thu 'n t-am ;
Tha samhradh caomh a' falbh 'n a dheann,
Tha 'n geamhradh gnu a' tarruinn teann,
Ma mheallar thu an so le breig,
Bi cinnteach 'n uair a thig an t-eug,
Gu 'm bi do chliu 's do dhuais da re*ir
Bho 'n Ti 'thug beatha do gach ere."
Thug iad greis mar sin air comhradh,
Ged nach robh iad trie a' cordadh,
'S mar a thachair dhuinn gu leir,
Bha iad car dion 'n am barail fe'in ;
Ach le durachd geanail spe"iseil,
Ghabh iad latha math de cheile,
Dh' f halbh an seillean coir us srann aig',
'S theann a' chuileag fhaoin ri dannsa.
N. MACLEOID,
68 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
THE GAELIC NAMES OF TEEES, SHEUBS, PLANTS, &c.*
BY CHARLES FERGUSSON.
THE subject of the Gaelic names of the trees and plants that grow around
us is a very important and interesting one, but unfortunately, I must say,
a very much neglected one by the present race of Highlanders. Our
ancestors had a Gaelic name, not only for all the trees and plants that
grew in their own country, but also for many foreign plants. Yet there
are very few of the present generation who know anything at all about
those Gaelic names, except perhaps a few of the very common ones, such
as Darach, Beithe, Giuthas, Galltuinn.
The principal reason for this is, that the Highlanders of the present
day have not to pay so much attention to, or depend so much upon, the
plants of their own country as their ancestors did who depended almost
entirely on their own vegetable substances for their medicinal, manufactur-
ing, and other purposes. A great many of those Gaelic names are already
lost, and many more will be so in a few years if some steps are not taken
to preserve them, for though, certainly, we have many of them already in
print, scattered through such works as Alex. Macdonald's (Mac Mhaighstir
Alastair) Vocabulary, Lightfoot's Flora Scotica, the Gaelic Bible, and the
Dictionaries, yet the great majority of the Gaelic names are not in print,
but only preserved amongst the old people, and will soon be forgotten
unless speedily collected. So far as I am aware there is not yet a single
work on this important subject; therefore I have chosen it as the subject
of the following paper, in which I will give the Gaelic name, and a short
account of the various uses to which our ancestors put each, beginning
with a few of our common trees and going down to the smaller plants,
trusting it will awaken an interest in the subject, and be the beginning of
an effort to collect all the Gaelic names possible ere it be too late. In
studying the Gaelic names of plants, even the most careless observer can-
not fail being struck with the fine taste and intimate acquaintance with
the various peculiarities and different properties of plants, displayed by
our ancestors in giving the Gaelic names to plants. This I think is one
of the strongest proofs we have that our ancestors were keen observers of
nature an advanced and cultivated race and not the rude savages which
some people delight to represent them. In reading the works of our best
Gaelic bards, from Ossian downwards, we cannot help also being struck
with their acquaintance with the names and various peculiarities of plants.
Without further remarks in the way of introduction, I will proceed
to give an account of some of our Highland trees, shrubs, and plants.
ALDER. Latin, Alnus Glutinosa ; Gaelic, Fearna. This well-known
tree is a native of the Highlands, where it grows to perfection all over the
country by the side of streams, and in wet marshy places. It seems in
former times to have grown even more abundantly, and that in places
where now not a tree of this or any other kind is to be found. This is
proved by the many names of places derived from this tree, such as Glen
* Read befere Gaelic Society of Inverness,
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 69
Fernate Gltann Fearn-aite in A thole; Fearnan in Breadalbane; Fearn
iu Boss-shire ; Fernaig in Lochalsh, &c. In a suitable situation the alder
will grow to a great size. There is mention made in the account of the
parish of Kenmore, in the " New Statistical Account of Scotland," of an
alder tree growing in the park of Taymouth Castle, the circumference of
which, in 1844, was 12 feet 8 inches. The wood of this tree resembles
mahogany so much that it is generally known as " Scotch Mahogany."
It is very red and rather brittle, but very durable, especially under water.
Lightfoot, the learned author of the " Flora Scotica," mentions that, when
he accompanied Pennant on his famous Tour in 1772, the Highlanders
then used alder very much for making chairs and other articles of furni-
ture, which were very handsome and of the colour of mahogany. He
mentions that it was much used by them for carving into bowls, spoons,
&c,, and also for the very curious use of making heels for women's shoes.
It was once very much used, and in seme parts of the Highlands it is
still commonly used, for dyeing a beautiful black colour. By boiling the bark
or young twigs with copperas it gives a very durable colour, and supplies
the black stripes in home-made tartan. A decoction of the leaves was
counted an excellent remedy for burnings and inflammations, and the fresh
leaves laid upon swellings are said to dissolve them and stay the inflamma-
tion. The old Highlanders used to put fresh alder leaves to the soles of
their feet when they were much fatigued with long journeys or in hot
weather, as they allayed the heat and refreshed them very much. Our
ancestors were sharp enough to discover the curious fact that the alder
wood splits best from the root, whereas all other trees split best from the
top, which gave rise to the old Gaelic saying, " Gach fiodh o na bharr, 's
an fhearna o' na bhun."
APPLE AND CRAB APPLE. Latin, Pyrus Mains; Gaelic, Ubhal,
Ubhal-fiadhaicli. The crab apple is a native of the Highlands, where it
grows in woods and by river sides, to a height of about twenty feet. Of
course the cultivated apple of gardens and orchards is just an improved
variety of the same, which by ages of care and cultivation has been
brought to its present perfection. The fruit of the crab is small and
very bitter, but its juice is much used for rubbing to sprains, cramps, &c.,
and the bark is used by the Highlanders for dying wool of a light yel-
lowish colour. The apple was cultivated at a very early date in Britain,
as it is often mentioned by our earliest writers. Logan says that from a
passage in Ossian it is .clear that the ancient Highlanders were well
acquainted with the apple. Pliny says that the apple trees of Britain
bore excellent fruit, and Solinus writes that Moray and the north-eastern
part of Scotland abounded with apples in the third century. Buchanan
says that Moray, which, of course, in his day included Inverness-shire,
surpassed all the other parts of Scotland for excellent fruittrees. The monks
paid great attention to the cultivation of the apple, and they always had
gardens and orchards attached to their monasteries, near the ruins of
which some very old apple trees are still found growing and bearing
good crops of fruit, for instance, the old apple tree a few yards north from
Beauly Priory. We read that the monks of lona had very fine orchards
i" the ninth century, but they were destroyed and the trees cut down by
th- 1 Norwegian invaders. King David L, about 1140, spent much of his
70 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
spare time in training and grafting fruit trees. It is a very great mistake
indeed that the apple is not cultivated more now in the Highlands, for
from the suitable soil in many places, and also from the great shelter
afforded by the hills and woods, in many of the glens and straths, it would
grow to perfection where at present there is not a single tree. Indeed it
is entirely neglected except in gentlemen's gardens. The present High-
landers have not such a high opinion of the apple as Solomon had " Mar
chrann-ubhall am measg chrann na coille, is amhuill mo runsa am measg
nan bgauach ; fo sgaile mhainnaich mi, agus shuidh mi sios agus bha a
thoradh milis do m' bhlas" (Song of Solomon ii. 3). Almost all the
Gaelic bards, in singing the praises of their lady-loves, compare them to the
sweet-smelling apple:
" Bu tu m' ubhall, a's m' ubhlan,
'S bu tu m'ur ros an garadh."
" Iseabail 6g
An 6r-f'huilt bhuidhe
Do ghruaidh mar rbs
'S do phbg mar ubhal."
" Tha do phog mar ubhlan garaidh,
'S tha do bhraighe mar an nebnan."
The well-known fact that the largest and finest apples always grow on
the young wood at the top of the tree gave rise to the old Gaelic proverb
" Bithidh 'n t-ubhal is fearr, air a mheangan is airde." The crab apple
is the badge of the Clan Lamond.
APRICOTE. Latin, Armeniaca Vulgaris ; Gaelic, Apricoc. The apri-
cote is a native of the Levant, but was introduced into Britain in 1548.
This excellent fruit, which was once much grown by the monks, is very
seldom to be found now in the Highlands, though common enough in
gardens in the Lowlands of Scotland. Alexander Macdonald ( Mac
Mhaiglistir Alastair) mentions it in his Gaelic list of fruit trees, and
Logan, in his " Scottish Gael," says that it thrives very well as far north
as Dunrobin. By giving it the shelter of a wall facing the south, it will
thrive and ripen its fruit in most of the low straths of the Highlands.
ASH. Latin, Fraxinus Excelsior ; Gaelic, Uinnseann. The ash is a
native of the Highlands, where, in a suitable situation, it will grow to a
height of nearly 100 feet. This useful tree, so well-known to everybody,
is noted for its smooth silvery bark when young, and for its graceful fern-
like leaves, which come out late in spring, and are the first to fall in
autumn, and of which horses and sheep are very fond. The ash will
adapt itself to any situation, and will flourish according to the richness of
the soil, and the amount of shelter it receives, wherever it happens to
spring up, from a seed carried by the wind or by birds. "We have it in
the Highlands in every stage from the stunted bush of a few feet high,
which grows in the cleft of some high rock, or by the side of some bum
high up amongst the hills, to the noble tree of a hundred feet high, which
grows in our straths, and of which I may give the following example from
my native district of Athole. It is described by the Eev. Thomas
Buchanan in his account of the parish of Logierait, in " tho New Statis-
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 71
tical Account of Scotland" (1844). He says "There is a remarkable
ash tree in the innkeeper's garden, near the village of Logierait. It
measures at the ground 53 feet in circumference ; at three feet from the
ground, 40 feet ; and at eleven feet from the ground, 22 feet. The height
is 60 feet ; but the upper part of the stem appears to have been carried
away. The height is said to have been at one time nearly 90 feet. The
trunk is hollow from the base, and can contain a large party. This
venerable stem is surmounted by a profusion of foliage, which, even at
the advanced age of the tree, attracts the eye at a distance to its uncom-
mon proportions. An old man at the age of 100 is at present in the
habit of taking his seat daily within the hollow formed by its three
surviving sides no unsuitable companion to the venerable relic." In
the same work, in the accounts of the parishes of Kenmore and Weem,
mention is made of an ash in the park of Taymouth Castle, 18 feet in
circumference, and other two on the lawn at Castle Menzies, 16 feet.
The wood of the ash, which is hard and very tough, was much used by
the old Highlanders for making agricultural implements, handles for axes,
&c. Besides those peaceful uses to which they put the ash, they also
used it for warlike purposes, by making bows of it when yew could not
be had, and also for making handles for their spears and long Lochaber
axes. The Highlanders have many curious old superstitions about the ash,
one of which is also common in some parts or the Lowlands, viz. : That
the oak and the ash fortell whether it is to be a wet or a dry season, by
whichever of them comes first into leaf if the ash comes first into leaf,
it is to be a very wet summer ; but very dry if the oak comes first. An-
other curious old superstition is still lingering in some parts of the High-
lands about the virtue of the sap for newly-born ^children, and as Light-
foot mentions it as common in the Highlands and Islands when he
travelled there with Pennant, in 1772, I may give it in his words. He
says : " In many parts of the Highlands, at the birth of a child, the
nurse or midwife, from what motive I know not, puts the end of a green
stick of ash into the fire, and, while it is burning, receives into a spoon
the sap or juice which oozes out at the other end, and administers this as
the first spoonful of liquors to the new-born babe." Another old High-
land belief is that a decoction of the tender tops or leaves of the ash taken
inwardly, and rubbed outwardly to the wound, is a certain cure for the
bite of an adder or serpent, and that an adder has such an antipathy to
the ash that if it is encompassed with ash leaves and twigs, it will rather
go through fire than through the ash.
" Theid an nathair troimh an teine dhearg,
Mu'n teid i troimh dhuilleach an uinnsinn."
In fact, the adders were supposed to regard the ash amongst the forest
trees as they did the M'lvors among the Highland clans ! Every High-
lander knows the old saying about the M'lvors and the adders
Latha na Feill'-Bride
Their an nathair anns an torn
" Cha bhi mise ri Nic-Iomhair
'S cha bhi Nic-Iomhair riurn!
72 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
Mhionnaich mise do Chlann lombair
'S mhionnaich Clann lonihair dhomhsa ;
Nach bean mise do Chlann lomhair,
'S nach bean Clann lombair dbombsa ! "
As a proof of the many uses to which the wood of the ash may be put, I
may quote Isaiah, xliv. 14 " Suidhichidh e crann-uinsinn, agus altruimidh
an t' uisge e. An sinn bithidh e aig duine chum a losgadh ; agus gabhaidh
e dheth, agus garaidh se e fein : seadh cuiridh e teine ris, agus deasaichidh
e aran. Cuid dheth loisgidh e 'san teine, le cuid eile dheth deasaichidh
agus ithidh e feoil ; rostaidh e biadh agus sasuichear e : an sin garaidh
se a fe"in agus their e Aha rinn mi mo gharadh, dh' aithnich mi an teine.
Agus do 'n chuid eile dheth ni e dia, eadhon dealbh snaidhte dha fein ;
cromaidh e sios dha agus bheir e aoradh dha ; agus ni e urnuigh ris agus
their e Teasairg mi oir is tu mo dhia." The ash is the badge of the
Clan Menzies.
ASPEN. Latin, Populus Tremula; Gaelic, Critheann. The aspen,
which grows to a height of about fifty feet, is a native of the Highlands,
where it grows in great abundance all over the country, in most places on
the banks of streams. It is very rapid in the growth, consequently its
wood is not of much value, being very soft, but white and smooth. This
wood was much used by the Highlanders for making pack-saddles, wood
cans, milk pails, &c. The great peculiarity about the aspen, and which
has made it the object of many curious old superstitions, is the ever
trembling motion of its leaves, which gave rise to its Gaelic name,
" Critheann," or " trembling." The cause of this is that leaves which are
round or slightly heart-shaped, have very long slender stalks, so thai they
quiver and shake with every breath of wind, and the leaves being hard
and dry, give a peculiar rustling sound. There is a common belief
among the Highlanders that the Saviour's cross was made of the wood of
the aspen, and that ever since then the leaves of this tree cannot rest, but
are for ever trembling ! In the Bible, wherever we find the poplar men-
tioned in the English, it is always translated Critheann or Crithich in
Gaelic, as in Genesis xxx. 27, and Hosea iv. 13. As the aspen is a
variety of the poplar, it may be correct enough to translate poplar
" critheann," but Alex. Macdonald (Mac Mhaighstir Alastair), gives us
another name for the poplar, Crann Pobhuill.
BAY, OB LAUREL BAY. Latin, Laxrus noblis ; Gaelic, Laibhreas.
This beautiful evergreen tree, the emblem of victory among the ancients,
is a native of Itiily, but was introduced into Britain in 1561. It would
likely be some time after that, however, before it was much planted in the
Highlands, where it grows and thrives very well now in all the low straths
and glens. Laibhreas is the Gaelic name I have found for it in over a
dozen different books, but in the Bible, where it is only once mentioned
(Psalms xxxvii. 35), it is translated Ur-chraobh-uaine. There are a great
many old superstitions connected with the bay, only one of which I will
give in the words of an old writer " that neither witch nor devil, thunder
nor lightning, will hurt a man where a bay tree is !" If such be the case
it is truly a valuable tree. The laurel bay is the badge of the Clan Mac-
laren, and from it they take the motto which they bear above their crest
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 73
"Si se Mac an t' slaurie," meaning that they are the sons of victory,
of which the laurel is the emblem.
BEECH. Latin, Fagus Sylvatica ; Gaelic, Faidh-Wiile. This tall and
graceful tree needs no description, as it is well-known to everybody. It
is a native of the Highlands, and grows to a height of about eighty feet.
It is a very hardy tree, and grows in the glens all over the Highlands,
where, in favourable situations, it attains an immenee size. Very large
beech trees are found at Dunkeld and in the pass of Killiecrankie, where,
to judge from their size, some of those beeches probably afforded shelter
to many a wounded soldier on the 17th July, 1689, when "Bonnie
Dundee" fought and fell on the field of Eaonruarie. Mention is also
made in the NQW Statistical Account of two beech trees at Castle Menzies,
one 17 and the other 19 feet in circumference, also one at Taymouth
Castle, 22 feet. Of the beech an old writer says : " The mast or seeds
of this tree will yield a good oil for lamps ; they are a food for mice and
squirrels, and swine are very fond of them, but the fat of those which
feed on them is soft and boils away, unless hardened before they are
killed by other food. The wood is brittle, very fissile, durable under
water, but not in the open air. It is the best of all woods for fuel, and
it is sometimes used for making axes, bowls, sword scabbards," &c. As the
leaves of the beech are very cooling, they were used by the Highlanders as
a poultice, to be applied to any swellings to lessen and allay the heat.
They were also used in some parts when dry for stuffing mattresses instead
of straw, to which they are much superior for that purpose, as they will
continue fresh for many years, and not get musty and hard as straw does.
BLACK BEECH. Latin, Fagus sylvatica atro-rubens ; Gaelic, Faidh-
Wiile dubh. This sombre and mournful-looking tree is just a variety of
the common beech, and has mostly the same nature, only that it does not
grow quite so tall The black beech is to be found with foliage of every
shade, from a brownish-green to a blood-red, and almost even to jet black
the two latter forming a very fine contrast to the light green of the
common beech, or the white flowers of the hawthorn or the mountain
ash, and is therefore a very striking object in a landscape. There are
some very large trees of this kind in the Highlands, such as at Guisachan,
in Strathglass, where they have a very rich dark colour.
BIRCH. Latin, Betula alba; Gaelic, Beithe. I need not say that
the birch is a native of the Highlands, where it is the most common of
all our forest trees, and its graceful habit adds to the beauty of almost
every glen and strath in the land of the Gael. It is still much used in
many ways, but was much more so by the old Highlanders, who turned
it into almost endless uses. The wood was once much used by them for
making arrows for the men and spinning wheels for the women both
being articles once indispensable in the Highlands, although now things
of the past. The wood is still much used in the Highlands by turners,
as it is the best possible wood for their work, and it is also much used for
making bobbins. As Lightfoot mentions many of the uses to which the
Highlanders put birch, I may give them in his words : " Various are
the economical uses," he says, " of this tree. The Highlanders xise the bark
to tan their leather and to make ropes. The outer rind, which they call
they sometimes burn instead of candles. The inner bark,
74 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
before the invention of paper, was used to write upon. The wood was
formerly used by the Highlanders for making their arrows, but is now
converted to better purposes, being used by the wheelwrights for ploughs,
carts, and most of the rustic implements ; by the turners for trenchers,
ladles, &c., the knotty excrescences affording a beautiful veined wood ;
and by the cooper for hoops. The leaves are a fodder for sheep and goats,
and are used by the Highlanders for dyeing a yellow colour. The catkins
are a favourite food of small birds, especially the sisken, and the pliant
twigs are well-known to answer the purposes of cleanliness and conectiont
There is yet another use to which this tree is applicable, and which I
will beg leave strongly to recommend to my Highland friends. The
vernal sap is well known to have a saccharine quality capable of making
sugar, and a wholesome diuretic wine. This tree is always at hand, and
the method of making the wine is simple and easy. I shall subjoin the
receipt ' In the beginning of March when the sap is rising, and before
the leaves shoot out, bore holes in the bodies of the larger trees and put
fossets therein, made of elder sticks with the pith taken out, and then
put any vessels under to receive the liquor. If the tree be large you may
tap it in four or five places at a time without hurting it, and thus from
several trees you may gain several gallons of juice in a day. If you have
not enough in one day bottle up close what you have till you get a suffi-
cient quantity for your purpose, but the sooner it is used the better.
Boil the sap as long as any scum rises, skimming it all the time. To
every gallon of liquor put four pounds of sugar, and boil it afterwards
half-an-hour, skimming it well ; then put it into an open tub to cool, and
when cold run it into your cask; when it has done working bung it up
close, and keep it three months. Then either bottle it off or draw it out
of the cask after it is a year old. This is a generous and agreeable liquor,
and would be a happy substitute in the room of the poisonous whisky.'"
So says Lightfoot. Another writer says " In those parts of the High-
lands of Scotland where pine is not to be had, the birch is a timber for
all uses. The stronger stems are the rafters of the cabin, wattles of the
boughs are the walls and the doors, even the chests and boxes are of this
rude basket work. To the Highlander it forms his spade, his plough, and if
ne have one, his cart, and his harness ; and when other materials are
used the cordage is still withies of twisted birch. These ropes are far
more durable than ropes of hemp, and the only preparation is to bark the
twig and twist it while green."
WARTY OR KNOTTY BIRCH. Latin, Betula VeiTucosa ; Gaelic, Beithe
Carraigeach, Beithe Dubh-chasach. This tree, though very much resemb-
ling the common birch, is quite a distinct variety, and was always treated
as such by the old Highlanders, which is another strong proof of how keenly
our ancestors studied nature, and how quick they were to discover even the
slightest peculiarity or difference in the habit or nature of any tree or plant,
and the nicety and taste with which they gave the Gaelic name descriptive
of any such peculiarity. It is a native of the Highlands, where it generally
grows larger and stronger than the common birch. It was always used by the
old Highlanders for any particular work where extra strength or durability
was required. Owing to its dark bark and its gnarled and knotty stem it is
not such a graceful tree as the common birch, but the wood is of a better
quality. (To be Continued.)
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 75
PRINCE CHARLES AT CULLODEN
THE following letter appeared in a recent issue of the Inverness Courier,
It is curious and worthy of preservation :
The statements which I made on the occasion of the opening of our College,
that Abhot Leith was a faithful adherent of Prince Charles, and was with
him at the battle of Culloden, were, I think, not altogether without fair his-
torical foundation. They were based in the first place upon two ancient
manuscripts, as yet inedited, formerly belonging to our old Scottish Abbey
of St James's at Ratisbon in Bavaria, and now safely lodged in the
Archives of this Monastery ; and, secondly, upon the testimony of the old
tradition of the Abbey of Ratisbon, over which Abbot Leith presided
after the battle of Culloden. This tradition has been handed down to us
by Dom. Anselom Robertson, the last Scottish Monk of St James's, who
is now a Professor in this College. He received his information from
Prior Deasson, who in his turn had it from Dom. Ildefonsus Kennedy,
the annalist of the Abbey, a contemporary of Abbot Leith, and the writer
of one of the two manuscripts which lie before me.
That Prince Charles should have had his chaplain with him in the
momentous battle of Culloden, in which he was about to stake his fortunes
is natural enough, whilst the circumstance that this incident has not been
more fully recorded, may be accounted for by the fact that Dom. Gall
Leith disguised himself as a soldier, and might thus have easily escaped
special observation. A brief sketch of the life of this soldier monk may
interest some of your readers.
Robert Leith, in religion known as Dom. Gall Leith, the son of Alex-
ander Leith, was born in December 26> 1706, at Collithy, and when
twelve years old was sent with eight other youths from Scotland to the
ancient and famous Scotch Benedictine Abbey at Ratisbon. In 1726 he
became a monk of the Order of St Benedict, in 1728 completed his
philosophical studies, entered upon divinity 1731, and was sent to Salz-
burg to prosecute the study of Canon Law. He then paid a visit to Rome,
returning to St James's 1737, where he remained director of the College
till September of 1740, when he crossed the seas as a missionary, and once
more set foot on his native land : " in mense Septembris perrexit mission-
arius in Scotiam." The old monastic chronicle says " He was a man of
singular cast, and was endowed with exceeding good natural parts ; he had
an unrelenting application. As master in speculative sciences he teached
philosophy and theology with honour, and was an able orator. He had a
penetrating head, an honest heart." Such a man was not likely to stand
listlessly with his hands hanging at his sides in times of peril and excite-
ment. From 1740 till 1747 he shared in the religious and political suffer-
ings which afflicted Scotland. He became chaplain and private confessor
to Prince Charles. The annalist tells us " In the troubles of 1745 he
served Prince Charles as priest and soldier, by which last (he dryly adds)
he received a wound in his foot for his pains." The Edinburgh Review
(January 1864) in an article, entitled " Scottish Religious Houses Abroad,"
remarks in speaking of the Abbots of Ratisbon " The next Abbot was
76 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
F. Leith, who accompanied Charles Edward in the affair of '45 into
England, being associated with three other priests as chaplains to the ex-
pedition" (p. 183). After the battle of Culloden it was no longer safe
for him to remain in the country. "Anno 1747 coactus est relinquere
Patriam ob tumultos bellicosos." Moreover, worn out both in mind and
"body by the incredible fatigues he had been through, he needed rest, and
betook himself to the Benedictine country house of Erfurt, in Germany.
No sooner had he recovered a little from his fatigues than he returned
again to the mission in Scotland. But such a man, guilty of the double
crime of being a priest and a Royalist, could not elude the vigilant eye of
the " Butcher Duke." On arriving in port he was apprehended on board
ship by orders of the Duke of Cumberland, and transferred to a man-of-
war, and thus carried to London. There, with two other priests, he was
thrown into prison for four months, and then set at liberty by the Minister
of the day. The rest of his life was spent in comparative tranquillity.
Three years he lived in Wales at Battington Hall, acting as chaplain to
the Duke of Powis. Whilst there he received news of his election to the
Abbacy of St James's, which he governed till his death in 1775.
By way of confirming what I said at our festal board, I may here add
that after Prince Charles escaped to France the Abbots of St James's were
continually in correspondence with the Eoyal House of Stuart up to the
death of Cardinal York. Unfortunately, nearly the whole of this inter-
esting correspondence was burnt in 1804 in the country house of Stralfeld,
in Bavaria. One precious letter, written by Cardinal York to the Abbot
of St James's, alone escaped the flames, and may now be seen at Blair's
College, Aberdeenshire.
In conclusion, allow me to add that I shall be happy to allow those
who wish it free access to any documents we may possess of interest, and
that it will always be our aim and pleasure to promote as widely as
possible the cause of literature and learning, even in however slender a
degree that may be. I am, yours truly,
JEROME VAUGHAN, O.S.B.
ST BENEDICT'S MONASTERY AND COLLEGE, FOBT-ADGUSTTO.
TO CONTRIBUTORS. The first article by the Rev. Donald Masson,
M.D., M.A., on " Our Gaelic Bible," will appear in our next.
THE HIGHLANDER NEWSPAPER. Next month we shaU dis-
cuss the causes which led to the present unfortunate position of the
Highlander. We are in a position to state that it certainly was not the
want of proper support by Highlanders. The circulation was large, and
with good management the paper might have been made one of the best
weekly newspaper properties in Scotland.
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 77
literature.
TRANSACTIONS OF THE GAELIC SOCIETY OF INVERNESS : VOLUME
VII. , 1877-78. Printed for the Society.
WE always peruse the Transactions of the Gaelic Society with pleasure
and profit. The volume now under notice is in every respect highly
creditable. All the papers are good some of them really excellent, and
most of the speeches re-produced are well worth recording in this form.
The first paper is by the Eev. A. C. Sutherland, B.A., Strath braan, and
is entitled "George Buchanan on the Customs and Languages of the
Celts." It is very interesting and will well repay perusal. The session
of 1877-8 is commenced by an introductory address in Gaelic, by the
Eev. Alexander Macgregor, and is reproduced in full. It is a
" Comhradh " between Murchadh Ban and Coinneach Ciobair. Coinneach
found his way to Inverness and describes what he there saw. He, of
course, met the Ard-Albannach and the Geilteach, and gives the follow-
ing description of them :
C. " Chunnaic mi an dithis, agus ochan ! Is iad bha daimheil
suairce, coir. Bha 'n t-Ard-Albannach direach anns an riochd sin a
smuainich mi a bhiodh e, laidir, calma, treun, le bhreacan-an-f heile, agus
'bhonait leathainn. Ach bha mi gu tur air mo mhealladh, a' thaobh a'
bheachd a ghabh mi, mu'm fac mi e, air a' Cheilteach. 'Bha duil agam
gu'n robh e 'na spealpair caol, ard, dubh, le ite geoidh a'n cul a chluais
cas, peasanach 'na labhairt, agus rud-eigin cosmhuil ris na sgonn-bhalaich
sin a chithear na'n cleirich ann an tamh-ionadaibh nan slighean-iaruinn !
Ach ! Ochan ! is mi a bha air mo mhealladh, seadh, gu tur air mo
mhealladh, a Mhurachaidh."
M. " Bha thu air do mhealladh 'n ad 'bharail d'a rireadh, a Choin-
nich."
C. " Cha robh mac mathar riamh ni's mo air a mhealladh ! Chaidh
mi 'ga fhaicinn, agus ma chaidh, chomhluich mi duine ro ghrinn agus
aoidheil, duine garbh, tiugh, sultmhor, ruighteach, geanail, agus ceart co
eu-cosmhuil ris a' chle'ireach, chaol, ghobach, dhubh sin, a bha 'san amharc
agam, 'sa tha Creag-Phadruig eu-cosmhuil ri Beinn Neabhais. Chuir sinn
uine mhor seachad cuideachd, agus bu lionmhor na nithe Gaidhealach air
an d'thug sinn lamh. Cha bheag an sochair d'an Chomunn so gu'm bheil
an t-Ard-Albannach agus an Ceilteach aig an uilinn aca, agus cha bheag
a bhuannachd do'n Ghaidhealtachd gu'm bheil iad a' dol a mach air an
cuairtibh air feadh gach gleann, eilean, agus garbh-chrioch 'nar tir."
" Leaves from my Celtic Portfolio " two papers contributed by William
Mackenzie, secretary of the Society are really valuable contributions,
and such as the Transactions of the Society ought generally to be devoted
to. In these papers Mr Mackenzie presents us with what he calls " Frag-
ments from his Celtic Repositories." They are certainly fragments such
a 5 * ought not to be lost, and Mr Mackenzie has done good service in plac-
i ;_; them at the disposal of the Society, and, so securing a permanent place
iw Uiom in the Transactions. The fragments are curious, and would,
78 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
by themselves, be worth, the whole annual subscription to the Society.
The next paper, by Charles Fergusson, on " The Gaelic names of Trees,
Shrubs, and Plants," is a most valuable one, and deserves to be more
widely known. It has been our intention to reproduce most, if not the
whole, of it in the Celtic Magazine, and the first part of it will be found
in this issue. The essay on " The Highland Garb," by J. G. Mackay,
contains interesting information about the Highland dress, and some
valuable notes on Clan Tartans, but we think Mr Mackay has devoted
more time and space to those who assert that the Highland dress is a
modern invention, than they really deserve ; for no one with any pretence
to the most artificial knowledge of Celtic matters, will for a moment
believe in the modern theory. Mr Mackay's paper, however, will be useful
in placing facts, already well-known to Celtic students, at the disposal of
members of the Society not .so well posted up, and so enable them to
answer the ignorant and dogmatic assertions of the sneering Southron, as
well as of the more contemptible creature the degenerate Highlander.
The paper on the " Celtic Poetry of Scotland," by Angus Macphail, is fairly
well written, though the style is samewhat tall, and exhibits an amount
of ability or rather what may, perhaps, with more exactness, be des-
cribed as a kind of precocious genius which, with care and a little more
economical use of the first personal pronoun and less self-assertiveness, is
sure to do good service in the Celtic field. Some very good translations
are given, as also specimens of Gaelic vowel rhymes and alliterations, the
most peculiar perhaps being that appropriated from Logan's introduction
to Mackenzie's "Beauties of Gaelic Poetry." Mr Macphail says that
" the ruling feet in Gaelic metres are the anapaest, trochee, and iambus,
and, as a general rule, hypercatelectic," and after giving a specimen of a
certain peculiar style of versification, he informs us that the metre is " the
anapaestic monometer hypercatalectic, alternating with the pure anapaestic
mouometer." This is, no doubt, learned and perhaps, to some, interesting,
but we really think it might be put in such a way as to enable persons
like ourselves, whose education has been to some extent neglected, to
spell and pronounce, to say nothing about understanding it. On the
whole the paper is worthy of careful perusal. It will be seen that the
author is most anxious to introduce harmony among Celtic students, and
this is how he does it :
Gaelic poetry, whose richest treasure is its wealth of lyrics, many of whose authors
ate nameless, has seen its best days. It is not likely that a Celtic genius will ever more
use the ancient Celtic speech as the vehicle of his thoughts. Highlanders have not re-
spected themselves ; a: id the world, literary as well as social, has not respected them.
No periodical written entirely in Gaelic can live, even in these days when Celticism is
in the air. Its literature is in the hands of literary parvenus, who make capital out of
the enthusiasm which the revival of Celtic feeling has created, so long as it lasts.
Celtic scholarship is at a discount ; and the best educated Celts live in bitter hostility
and jealousy to one another. If Celtic genius has not contributed much to our national
literature, Celtic industry may yet advance materially the science of philology.
Dr Maclauchlan supplies a paper on " Celtic Literature " of a very
different character to the one last referred to. It was published in our
pages at the time, and the reader has already judged for himself of its
great interest and value. The contribution on the " Election of Chiefs
and the Land Laws," by John Mackay of Benreay, is capitally written,
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 79
and is conclusive against the modern claim of the right to elect chiefs of
clans. Mr Mackay says, and says correctly :
It is generally allowed by those who have studied the subject, that under Celtic
sway, the law of succession in the Highlands, if not all over Scotland, was according to
what is known as the law of Tanistry. This system implied descent from a common
ancestor ; but when a vacancy occurred in the leadership, selected a man arrived at an
age tit for war and council, in preference to the infant son (or heir-male if a minor) of
the preceding chief. The succession was thus to a certain extent regulated by the law
of expediency, and not strictly confined to the nearest male blood, the object being to
have a chief of full age, able to advise in. council and lead the clansmen in time of war.
The chief, therefore, never being a minor, the quarrels, intrigues, and bloodshed for his
guardianship, as it was called, which became so marked under the feudal system, were
avoided ; but there was no election of chiefs in the modern sense of that word, for the
succession was confined to members of the chief's family. Thus, if a chief died, leaving
his eldest son under age, one of the deceased chief's brothers would succeed as leader
of the clan, and, failing a brother, the nearest male relative who had the confidence of
the majority. It was a question in the first place of consanguinity, and not an election
in the democratic or republican sense, as some people would have us believe, nowadays.
Again
Great stress has been laid by advocates of the elective system on the fact that two
of the Chiefs of the Macdonalds were deposed, and other chiefs appointed in their place.
These were the cases of Clanranald and Keppoch. Clanranald's case was IB 1544. He
was arbitrary and harsh ; and what I may call a revolt of his Clan took place. To pre-
serve his estate and authority, he got the assistance of his friend Lord Lovat and the
Clan Fraser to help him to subdue his refractory clansmen, and bring them back to
obedience. A battle took place. He was killed with a great many of the followers on
both sides. The hereditary chief being thus slain, the next in succession became head
of the Clan. In Keppoch's case, the revolution was effected more easily. He was con-
sidered to have become unworthy of the allegiance of the Clan, was deposed, and the
next in succession, as a matter of course, became chief. These, however, were excep-
tional cases ; and it would be just as correct to say that the succession to the throne of
Great Britain is elective because a revolution took place in 1689, by which one king was
deposed and another chosen in his place, as it would be to say that such was the mode
of electing a Highland chief from the instances I have given, or anj similar instance.
Mr Mackay puts very clearly his views on the Land Laws. He main-
tains that the people have no rights whatever in the soil. In this we
entirely differ from him, "but such a case as he puts and puts well
demands a very different answer to mere assertion or abuse. A full
account of the great Celtic demonstration in favour of Mr Fraser-Mack-
intosh, M.P., at Inverness in April last is given. It was at the time
more fully reported in a supplement to the Celtic Magazine than any-
where else, and further reference to it here is therefore unnecessary. The
paper by William Mackenzie, secretary, on " Bliadhna nan Caorach,"
is a remarkable and valuable contribution to the history of the
Highland Clearances. No mere quotation from this paper would give an
idea of its interest and value, and we can only recommend those who take
an interest in such questions to peruse the paper in the Transactions, a
copy of which each member of the Society receives gratis. This is the
largest and most valuable volume hitherto published by the Society. It
is highly creditable to the Secretary, not only on account of his own
valuable contributions to its pages, but also for the unusual promptitude
with which he managed, as convener of the publishing committee, to get
it through the press ; for the general excellence of the papers obtained by
him from the other contributors, and for the printing and general get-up
of the volume. The typography is everything that could be desired, and
the public owe the Gaelic Society a debt of gratitude for such a publica-
tion.
80
THE CELTIC MAGAZIKE.
FEAR AN LEADAIN THLAITH.
O&oru*.
-V
Fhir an leadain thlaith, Dh'fhag thu mi fo bhron, Tha mi trom an drasd,
Fine.
'Se sin fa mo dheoir, Fhir an leadain thlaith, dh'fhag thu mi fo bhron.
\F-4-
'Fhir 'chuil dualaich chleachdaich, 'S bidhche fiamh ri 'fliaicinn,
D.C.
m m
A-
^
Tha do ghaol an tasgaidh,
'N seomar glaist na m' fheoiL
KEY G.
Chorus.
I m . d :r.m I 1 : s ., d I m ., 'r : d | f . f : s ., s
I I . f :m.,d | r : m . d |r . m : 1 | s ., d : m ., r d
m . m : r ., r : d . d m . in :r.,r : d . d
D.C.
f ,f : s ., s : 1 . 1 s., f :m.d :r
Tha do ghruaigh mar shuthain,
An garaidh nan ubhall,
'8 binne learn na chuthag,
Uirighill do bheoil.
Jrhir an leadain, ttc.
An toiseach a' Gheamhraidh,
'S ann a ghabh mi geall ort,
Shaoil learn gu'm bu leam-thu,
'S cha do theann tbu'm choir.
Ihir an leadain, <fcc.
Fhir an leadainn laghaiob,
'S tu mo ruin 's mo raghain,
Na'n sguireadh tu thaghal
'S an taigh am bi 'H t-ol.
Fhir an leadain, &c.
Fhir an leadain chraobhaich,
'S og a rinn thu m' aomadh,
Thug thu mi bho 'm dhaoine
Fhuair mo shaathair og.
Fhir an leadain, cfcc.
An gair' a rinn mi 'n uiridh,
Chuir mo cheum an truimead,
'S mis a tba gu duilich,
'S muladach mo cheol.
Fhir an leadain, <kt.
NOTE. " Fear an leadain thlaith " is a highly popular song in the West Highlands
and ia well worthy of publication here. I am not aware that the air has appeared else-
where in print. W. M'K.
THE
CELTIC MAGAZINE.
No. XXXIX. JANUARY 1879. VOL. IV.
HISTOEY OF THE CLAN MACKENZIE,
WITH GENEALOGIES OF THE PRINCIPAL FAMILIES.
BY THE EDITOR.
[CONTINUED. |
GENERAL Wade made a report to the Government, from which we extract
the part which refers to Seaforth's followers : " The Laird of the Mac-
kenzies, and other chiefs of the clans and tribes, tenants to the late Earl
of Seaforth, came to me in a body, to the number of about fifty, and
assured me that both they and their followers were ready to pay a dutiful
obedience to your MajestyVcommands, by a peaceable surrender of their
arms ; and if your Majesty would be graciously pleased to procure them
an indemnity for the rents that had been misplaced for the time past,
they would for the future become faithful subjects to your Majesty, and
pay them to your Majesty's receiver for the use of the public. I assured
them of your Majesty's gracious intentions towards them, and that they
might rely on your Majesty's bounty and clemency, provided they would
merit it by their future good conduct and peaceable behaviour ; that I
had your Majesty's commands to send the first summons to the country
they inhabited ; which would soon give them an opportunity of showing
the sincerity of their promises, and of having the merit to set the example
to the rest of the Highlands, who in their turns were to be summoned to
deliver up their arms, pursuant to the Disarming Act ; that they might
choose the place they themselves thought most convenient to sur-
render their arms ; and that I would answer, that neither their persons
nor their property should be molested by your Majesty's troops. They
desired they might be permitted to deliver up their arms at the Castle of
Brahan, the principal seat of their late superior, who, they said, had pro-
moted and encouraged them to this their submission ; but begged that
none of the Highland companies might be present; for, as they had
always been reputed the bravest, as well as the most numerous of the
northern clans, they thought it more consistent with their honour to
resign their arms to your Majesty's veteran troops ; to which I readily
consented.
" Summonses were accordingly sent to the several clans and tribes,
the inhabitants of 18 parishes, who were vassals or tenants of the late
G
82 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
Earl of Seaforth, to bring or scud in all their arms and warlike weapons to
tlie Castle of Brahan, on or before the 28th of August.
" On the 25th of August I went to the Castle of Brahan with a de-
tachment of 200 of the regular troops, and was met there by the chiefs of
the several clans and tribes, who assured me they had used their utmost
diligence in collecting all the arms they were possessed of, which should
be brought thither on the Saturday following, pursuant to the summons
they had received ; and telling me they were apprehensive of insults or
depredations from the neighbouring clans of the Camerons and others,
who still continued in possession of their arms. Parties of the Highland
companies were ordered to guard the passes leading to their country;
which parties continued there for their protection, till the clans in that
neighbourhood were summoned, and had surrendered their arms.
" On the day appointed the several clans and tribes assembled in the
adjacent villages, and marched in good order through the great avenue
that leads to the Castle ; and one after the other laid down their arms in
the court-yard in great quiet and decency, amounting to 784 of the several
species mentioned in the Act of Parliament.
" The solemnity with which this was performed had undoubtedly a
great influence over the rest of the Highland clans ; and disposed them
to pay that obedience to your Majesty's commands, by a peaceable sur-
render of their arms, which they had never done to any of your royal
predecessors, or in compliance with any law either before or since the
Union."
We extract the following account of Donald Murchison's proceedings
and that of Seaforth's vassals during his exile in France, from a most
interesting and valuable work. * It will bring out in a prominent light
the state of the Highlands and the futility of the power of the Govern-
ment at that period in the North. With regard to several of the forfeited
estates which lay in inaccessible situations in the Highlands, the com-
missioners had been up to this time entirely baffled, having never been
able even to get surveys of them effected. In this predicament in a special
manner lay the immense territory of the Earl of Seaforth, extending from
Brahan Castle in Easter Eoss across the island to Kintail, and including
the large though unfertile island of Lewis. The districts of Lochalsh and
Kintail, on the west coast, the scene of the Spanish invasion of 1719,
were peculiarly difficult of access, their being no approach from the
south, east, or north, except by narrow and difficult paths, while the
western access was only assailable to a naval force. To afl appearance, this
tract of ground, the seat of many comparatively opulent " tacksmen " and
cattle farmers, was as much beyond tne control of the six commissioners
assembled at their office in Edinburgh, as if it had been amongst the
mountains of Tibet or upon the shores of Madagascar.
During several years after the insurrection, the rents of this district
were collected, without the slightest difficulty, for the benefit of the
exiled Earl, and regularly transmitted to him. At one time a consider-
able sum was sent to him in Spain, and the descendants of the man who
carried it continued for generations to bear " the Spanyard " as an addi-
* Chambers's Domestic Aniials of Scotland,
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 83
tion to their name. The chief agent in the business was Donald Murchi-
son, descendant of a line of faithful adherents of the " high chief of Kin-
tail." Some of the later generations of the family had been intrusted
with the keeping of Islandonain Castle, a stronghold dear to the modern
artist as a picturesque ruin, but formerly of serious importance as com-
manding a central point from which radiate Loch Alsli and Loch Duich,
in the midst of the best part of the Mackenzie country. Donald was a
man worthy of a more prominent place in his country's annals than he
has yet attained; he acted under a sense of right which, though unfor-
tunately defiant of Acts of Parliament, was still a very pure sense of right ;
and in the remarkable actions which he performed, he looked solely to the
good of those towards whom he had a feeling of duty. A more disin-
terested hero and he was one never lived.
When Lord Seaforth brought his clan to fight for King James in
1715, Donald Murchison and a senior brother, John, went as field officers
of the regiment Donald as lieutenant-colonel, and John as major. The
late Sir Roderick J. Murchison, the distinguished geologist, great-grand-
son of John, possessed a large ivory and silver " mill," which once con-
tained the commission sent from France to Donald, as colonel, bearing
the inscription : " James Rex : forward and spare not." John fell at
Sheriffmuir, in the prime of life ; Donald returning with the remains of
the clan, was entrusted by the banished Earl with the management of
estates no longer legally his, but still virtually so, though the eifect of
Highland feelings in connection with very peculiar local circumstances.
And for this task Donald was in various respects well qualified, for,
strange to say, the son of the castellan of Islandonain the Sheritfmuir
Colonel had been " bred a writer " in Edinburgh, and was as expert at
the business of a factor or estate-agent as in wielding the claymore.*
In bold and avowed insubordination to the government of George the
First, the Mackenzie's tenants continued for ten years to pay their rents
to Donald Murchison, on account of their forfeited and exiled lord, set-
ting at nought all fear of ever being compelled to repeat the payment to
the commissioners.
In 1720 these gentlemen made a movement for asserting their claims
upon the property. In William Eoss of Easterfearn and Robert Ross, a
bailie of Tain, they found two men bold enough to undertake the duty
of stewardship in their behalf over the Seaforth property, and also the
estates of Grant of Glenmoriston, and Chisholni of Strathglass. Little,
however, was done that year beyond sending out notices to the tenants,
and preparing for strenuous measures to be entered upon next year. The
stir they made only produced exitement, not dismay. Some of the duine-
uasals from about Lochcarron, coming down with their cattle to the
south-country fairs, were heard to declare that the two factors would
never get anything but leaden coin from the Seaforth tenantry. Donald
was going over the whole country showing a letter he had got from the
Earl, encouraging his people to stand 'out; at the same time telling them
that the old Countess was about to come north with a factory for the
estate, when she would allow as paid any rents which they might now
* For a shoit time before the insurrection, he had acted as factor to Sir John Pres-
ton of Preston Hall, in Mid-Lothian, now also a forfeited estate, but of minor value.
84 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
hand to him. The very first use to be made of this money was, indeed,
to bring both the old and . the young Countesses home immediately to
Brahan Castle, where they would live as they used to do. Part of the
funds thus acquired, he used in keeping on foot a party of about sixty
armed Highlanders, whom, in virtue of his commission as colonel, he pro-
posed to employ in resisting any troops of George the First which might
be sent to Kintail. Nor did he wait to be attacked, but in June 1720,
hearing of a party of excisemen passing near Dingwall with a large
quantity of aqua-vitcn, he fell upon them and rescued their prize. The
Collector of the district reported this transaction to the Board of Excise,
but no notice was taken of it.
In February 1721, the two factors sent officers of their own into the
western districts, to assure the tenants of good usage, if they would make
a peaceable submission ; but the men were seized, robbed of their papers,
money, and arms, and quietly remanded over the Firth of Attadale,
though only after giving solemn assurance that they would never attempt
to renew their mission. Resenting this procedure, the two factors caused
a constable to take a military party from Bernera Barracks into Lochalsh,
and, if possible, capture those who had been guilty. They made a
stealthy night-march, and took two men ; but the alarm was given, the
two men escaped, and began to fire down upon their captors from a hill-
side ; then they set fire to the bothy as a signal, and such a coronach
went over all Kintail and Lochalsh as made the soldiers glad to beat a
quick retreat.
After some further proceedings, all of them ineffectual, the two factors
were enabled, on the 13th day of September, to set forth from Inverness
with a party of thirty soldiers and some armed servants of their own,
with the design of enforcing submission to their legal claims. Let it be
remembered there were then no roads in the Highlands, nothing but a
few horse-tracks along the principle lines in the country, where not the
slightest effort had ever been made to smooth away the natural difficulties
of the ground. In two days the factors had got to Invermoriston ; but
here they were stopped for three days, waiting for their heavy luggage,
which was storm-stayed in Castle Urquhart, and there nearly taken in a
night attack by a partisan warrior bearing the name of Evan Eoy Mac-
giUivray. The tenantry of Glenmoriston at first fled with their bestial ;
but afterwards a number of them came iu and made at least the appear-
ance of submission. The party then moved on towards Strathglass,
while Evan Eoy respectfully followed, to pick xip any man or piece of
baggage that might be left behind. At Erchless Castle, and at Inver-
cannich, seats of the Chisholm, they held courts, and received the sub-
mission of a number of the tenants, whom, however, they subsequently
found to be " very deceitful."
There were now forty or fifty miles of the wildest Highland country
before them, where they had reason to believe they should meet groups
of murderous Camerons and Glengarry Macdonalds, and also encounter
the redoubtable Donald Murcliison, with his guard of Mackenzies, unless
then 1 military force should be of an amount to render all such opposition
hopeless. An appointment having been made that they should receive
ail addition of fifty soldiers from Bernera, with whom to pass through
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 85
the most difficult part of their journey, it seemed likely that they would
appear too strong for resistance ; and, indeed, intelligence was already
coming to them, that "the people of Kintail, being a judicious opulent
people, would not expose themselves to the punishments of law," and
that the Camerons were absolutely determined to give no further provo-
cation to the Governmeat. This assured, they set out in cheerful mood
along the valley of Strathglass, and, soon after passing a place called
Knockfin, were reinforced by Lieutenant Brymer with the expected fifty
men from Bernera. There must now have been about a hundred well
armed men in the invasive body. They spent the next day (Sunday)
together in rest, to gather strength for the ensuing day's inarch of about
thirty arduous miles, by which they hoped to reach Kintail.
At four in the morning of Monday, the 2d of October, the party set
forward, the Bernera men first, and the factors in the rear. They were
as yet far from the height of the country, and from its more difficult
passes ; but they soon found that all the flattering tales of non-resistance
were groundless, and that the Kintail men had come a good way out
from their country in order to defend it. The truth was, that Donald
Murchison had assembled not only his stated band of Mackenzies, but a
levy of the Lewis men under Seaforth's cousin, Mackenzie of Kildun ;
also an auxiliary corps of Camerons, Glengarry and Glenmoriston men,
and some of those very Strathglass men who had been making appearances
of submission. Altogether, he had, if the factors were rightly informed,
three hundred and fifty men with long Spanish firelocks, under his com-
mand, and all posted in the way most likely to give them an advantage
over the invading force.
The rear-guard, with the factors, had scarcely gone a mile, when they
received a platoon of seven shots from a rising ground near them to the
right, with, however, only the effect of piercing a soldier's hat. The
Bernera company, as we are informed, left the party at eight o'clock, as
they were passing Lochanachlee, and from this time is heard of no more ;
how it made its way out of the country does not appear. The remainder
still advancing, Easterfearn, as he rode a little before his men, had eight
shots levelled at him from a rude breast-work near by, and was wounded
in two places, but was able to appear as if he had not been touched.
Then calling out some Highlander in his service, he desired them to go
before the soldiers and do their best, according to their own mode of war-
fare to clear the ground of such lurking parties, so that the troops might
advance in safety. They performed this service pretty effectually, skir-
mishing as they went on, and the main body advanced safely about six
miles. They were here arrived at a place called Ath-na-Mullach (Ford
of the Mull People), where the waters, descending from the Cralich and
the lofty mountains of Kintail, issue eastwards through a narrow gorge
into Loch Auric. It was a place remarkably well adapted for the pur-
poses of a resisting party. A rocky boss, called Tor-an-Beathaich, then
densly covered with birch, closes up the glen as with a gate. The black
mountain stream, " spear-deep," sweeps round it. A narrow path wound
up the rock, admitting only of passengers in single file. Here lay Donald
with the best of his people, while inferior adherents were ready to make
demonstrations at a little distance. As the invasive party approached,
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
they received a platoon from a wood on the left, but nevertheless went
on. When, however, they, were all engaged in toiling up the pass, forty
men concealed in the heather close by fired with deadly effect, inflicting
a mortal wound on Walter Ross, Easterfearn's son, while Bailie Ross's
son was also hurt by a bullet which swept across his breast. The Bailie
called to his son to retire, and the order was obeyed ; but the two wounded
youths and Bailie Ross's servant were taken prisoners, and carried up the
hill, where they were quickly divested of clothes, arms, money and
papers. Young Easteri'earn died next morning. The troops faced the
ambuscade manfully, and are said to have given their fire thrice, and to
have beat the Highlanders from the bushes near them ; but, observing at
this juncture several parties of the enemy on the neighbouring heights,
and being informed of a party of sixty in their rear, Easterfearn deemed
it best to temporise.
He sent forward a messenger to ask who they were that opposed the
King's troops, and what they wanted. The answer was that, in the first
place, they required to have Ross of Easterfearn delivered up to them.
This was pointedly refused ; but it was at length arranged that Easter-
fearn should go forward and converse with the leader of the opposing party.
The meeting took place at Baile-ath-na-Mullach (The Town of the Mull
Men's Ford), and Easterfearn found himself confronted with Donald
Murchison. It ended with Easterfearn giving up his papers, and coven-
anting, under a penalty of five hundred pounds, not to officiate in his
factory any more ; after which he gladly departed homewards with his
associates, under favour of a guard of Donald's men, to conduct them
safely past the sixty men lurking in the rear. It Avas alleged afterwards
that the commander was much blamed by his own people for letting the
factors off with their lives and baggage, particularly by the Camerons,
who had been five days at their post with hardly anything to eat ; and
Murchison only pacified them by sending them a good supply of meat
and drink. He had in reality given a very effective check to the two
gentlemen-factors, to one of whom he imparted in conversation that any
scheme of a Government stewardship in Kintail was hopeless, for he and
sixteen others had sworn that, if any person calling himself a factor came
there, they would take his life, whether at kirk or at market, and deem
it a meritorious action, though they should be cut to pieces for it the
next minute.
A bloody grave for young Easterfearn in Beauly Cathedral concluded
this abortive attempt to take the Seaforth estates within the scope of a
law sanctioned by statesmen, but against which the natural feelings of
nearly a whole people revolted.
A second attempt was now made to obtain possession of the forfeited
Seaforth estates for the Government. It was calculated that what the
two factors, and their attendants, with a small military force, had failed
to accomplish in the preceding October, when they were beat back with
a fatal loss at Ath-na-Mullach, might now be effected by means of a good
military party alone, if they should make their approach through a less
critical passage. A hundred and sixty of Colonel Kirk's regiment- left
Inverness under Captain M'Xeill, who had at one time been Commander
of the Highland Watch. They proceeded by Dingwall, Strathgarve, and
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 87
Loch Carron, a route to the north of that adopted by the factors, and an
easier, though a longer way. Donald Murchison, nothing daunted, got
together his followers, and advanced to the top of Mam Attadale, by a high
pass from Loch Carron to the head of Loch Long, separating LochaLsh
from Kintail. Here a gallant relative, named Kenneth Murchison, and
a few others, volunteered to go forward and plant themselves in ambush
in the defiles of the Coille Bhan (White Wood), while the bulk of the
party should remain where they were. It would appear that this ambush
party consisted of thirteen men, all peculiarly well armed.
On approaching this dangerous place, the captain went forward with
a sergeant and eighteen men to clear the wood, while the main body came
on slowly in the rear. At a place called Attanbadubh, in the Coille
Bhan ; he encountered Kenneth and his associates, whose fire wounded
himself severely, killed one of his grenadiers, and wounded several others
of the party. He persisted in advancing, and attacking the handful of
natives with sufficient resolution, they slowly withdrew, as unable to
resist ; but the captain now obtained intelligence that a large body of
Mackenzies was posted in the mountain-pass of Attadale. It seemed as
if there was a design to draw him into a fatal ambuscade. His own
wounded condition probably warned him that a better opportunity might
occur afterwards. He turned his forces about, and made the best of his
way back to Inverness. Kenneth Murchison quickly rejoined Colonel
Donald on Mam Attadale, with the cheering intelligence that one salvo
of thirteen guns had repelled the hundred and sixty red-coats. . After
this we hear of no renewed attempt to comprise the Seaforth property.
Strange as it may seem, Donald Murchison, two years after this a
second time resisting the Government troops, came down to Edinburgh
with eight hundred pounds of the Earl's rents, that he might get the
money sent abroad for his lordship's use. He remained a fortnight in
the city unmolested. He would on this occasion appear in the garb of a
Lowland gentleman ; he would mingle with old acquaintances, " doers "
and writers ; and appear at the Cross amongst the crowd of gentlemen
who assembled there every day at noon. Scores would know all about
his doings at Ath-na-Mullach and the Coille Bhan ; but thousands might
have known, without the chance of one of them, betraying him to the
Government.
General Wade, in his report to the King in 1725, states that the
Seaforth tenants, formerly reputed the richest of any in the Highlands,
are now become poor, by neglecting their business, and applying them-
selves to the use of arms. " The rents," he says, " continue to be col-
lected by one Donald Murchison, a servant of the late Earl's, who
annually remits or carries the same to his master in France. The tenants,
when in a condition, are said to have sent him free gifts in proportion to
their several circumstances, but are now a year and a-half in arrear of
rent. The receipts he gives to the tenants are as deputy-factor to the
Commissioners of the Forfeited Estates, which pretended power he ex-
torted from the factor (appointed by the said Commissioners to collect
those rents for the use of the public), whom he attacked with above four
hundred armed men, as he was going to enter upon the said estate, having
with him a party of thirty of your Majesty's troops. The last year this
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
Murchison marched in a public manner to Edinburgh, to remit eight
hundred pounds to France for his master's use, and remained fourteen
days there unmolested. I cannot omit observing to your Majesty, that this
national tenderness the subjects of North Britain have one for the other,
is a great encouragement for rebels and attainted persons to return home
from their banishment."
Donald was again in Edinburgh about the end of August 1725. On
the 2d of September, George Lockhart of Carnwath, writing from Edin-
burgh to the Chevalier St George, states, amongst other matters of in-
formation regarding his party in Scotland, that Daniel Mnrchison (as he
calls him) " is come to Edinburgh, on his way to France " doubtless
charged with a sum of rents for Seaforth. " He's been in quest of me,
and I of him," says Lockhart, " these two days, and missed each other ;
but in a day or two he's to be at my country house, where I'll get time
to talk fully with him. In the meantime, I know from one that saw him,
that he has taken up and secured all the arms of value in Seaforth's
estate, which he thought better than to trust them to the care and pru-
dence of the several owners ; and the other chieftains, I hear, have done
the same.
The Commissioners on the Forfeited Estates concluded their final
report in 1725, by stating that they had not sold the estate of William,
Earl of Seaforth, " not having been able to obtain possession, and conse-
quently to give the same to a purchaser."
In a Whig poem on the Highland Eoads, written in 1737, Donald is
characteristically spoken of as a sort of cateran, while, in reality, as every
generous person can now well understand, he was a high-minded gentle-
man. The verses, nevertheless, as well as the appended note, are
curious :
Keppoch, Rob Roy, and Daniel Murcliison,
Cadets or servants to some chief of clan,
From theft and robberies scarce did ever cease,
Yet 'scaped the halter each, and died in peace.
This last his exiled master's rents collected,
Nor unto king or law would be subjected.
Though veteran troops upon the confines lay,
Sufficient to make lord and tribe a prey,
Yet passes strong through which no roads were cut,
Safe guarded Seaforth's clan, each in his hut.
Thus in strongholds the rogue securely lay,
Neither could they by force be driven away,
Till his attainted lord and chief of late
By ways and means repurchased his estate.
" Donald Murchison, a kinsman and servant to the Earl of Seaforth, bred
a writer, a man of small stature, but full of spirit and resolution,
fought at Dunblane against the Government, anno 1715. but continued
thereafter to collect Seaforth's rents for his lord's use, and had some
pickerings with the King's forces on that account, till, about five years
ago, the Government was so tender as to allow Seaforth to re-pxirchase his
estate, when the said Murchison had a principal hand in striking the
bargain for his master. How he fell under Seaforth's displeasure, and
died thereafter, is not to the purpose here to mention."
The end of Donald's career can scarcely now be passed over in this
slighting manner. The story is most painfid. The Seaforth of that day
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 89
very unlike some of his successors was unworthy of the devotion
which this heroic man had shown to him. When his lordship took pos-
session of the estates which Donald had in a manner preserved for him,
he discountenanced and neglected him. Murchison's noble spirit pined
away under this treatment, and he died in the very prime of his days of
a "broken heart. He lies in a remote little church-yard on Cononside, in
the parish of Urray, where, we are happy to say, his worthy relative, the
late Sir Eoderick J. Murchison, raised a suitable monument over his grave.
The traditional account of Donald Murchison, communicated to Cham-
bers by F. Macdonald, Druidaig, states that the heroic commissioner had
been promised a handsome reward for his services ; but Seaforth proved un-
grateful. " He was offered only a small farm called Bun-Da-Loch, which
pays at this day to Mr Matheson, the proprietor, no more than 60 a year ;
or another place opposite to Inverinate House, of about the same value. It
is no wonder he refused these paltry offers. He shortly afterwards left this
country, and died in the prime of life near Conon. On his death-bed,
Seaforth went to see him, and asked how he was. He said, ' Just as
you will be in a short time,' and then turned his back. They never met
again."
The death of George I., in 1726, suggested to the Chevalier a favour-
able opportunity again to attempt a rising and of stirring up his adherents
in Scotland, whither he was actually on his way until strongly remonstrated
with on the folly and hopelessness of such an undertaking at that time.
It was also pointed out to him that it could only end in the final ruin of
his family's pretensions, and of many of his friends who might be tempted
to enter on such a rash scheme more through personal attachment to his
own person than from any reasonable prospect they could see of success.
He, in consequence, retraced his steps to Boulogne, and the Earl of Sea-
forth, having been pardoned in the same year,* felt himself at liberty once
more to return to his native land, where, according to Mr Matheson, ho
spent the remainder of his life in retirement, and with few objects to
occupy him or to interest us beyond the due regard of his personal friends
and the uninterrrupted loyalty of his old vassals. He must, however, have-
been very hard up, for on the 27th of June 1728, he writes a letter to
the Lord Advocate, in which he refers to a request he made to Sir Robert
Walpole, who advised him to put his claim in writing that it might bo sub-
mitted to the King. This was done, but "the King would neither
allow anything of the kind or give orders to be granted what his royal
father had granted before. On hearing this I could not forbear making
appear how ill I was used. The Government in possession of the estate,
and I in the interim allowed to starve, though they were conscious of my
complying with whatever I promised to see put in execution." He makes
a strong appeal to his friend to contribute to an arrangement that would
* By letters dated 12fch July 1726, King George I. was pleased to discharge him
from imprisonment or the execution of his person on his attainder, and King George II.
made him a grant of the arrears of feu-duties due to the Crown out of his forfeited
estate. An Act of Parliament was passed in 1733, to enable William Mackenzie, late
Earl of Seaforth, to sue or maintain any action or suit notwithstanding his attainder,
and to remove any disability in him, by reason of his said attainder, to take or inherit
any real or personal estate that may or shall hereafter descend to him. Wood's Douglas*
Peerage.
90
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
tend to the mutual satisfaction of all concerned, " for the way I am now
in is most disagreeable, consequently, if not rectified, will choose rather
to seek my bread elsewhere than continue longer in so unworthy a situa-
tion.*
Notwithstanding the personal remission granted in his favour for the
part he had taken in the rising of 1715, the title of Earl of Seaforth,
under which alone he was proscribed, passed under attainder, while the
older and original dignity of Kintail, which only became subordinate by
a future elevation, remained unnoticed, and, consequently, unvitiated in
the male descent of Kenneth, first Lord Mackenzie of Kintail, granted by
patent on the 19th November 1609, and has accordingly been claimed, as
we shall afterwards see.t
Earl William married in early life Mary, the only daughter and heiress
of Nicholas Kennet of Coxhow, Northumberland, and by her had issue
three sons, Kenneth, Lord Fortrose, who succeeded him ; Eonald, died
unmarried ; and Nicholas, killed at Douay without issue. He had also
a daughter, Frances, who married the Honourable John Gordon of Ken-
mure, whose father was beheaded in 1715. He died in 1740 in the
Island of Lews, was buried there in the Chapel of Ui, and was suc-
ceeded by his eldest son.
(To be Continued.}
" ET EGO IN ARCADIA FUI."
From morn to eve the sunshine fills
A circle 'mid the summer hills,
Where rose-red hills of heather round
Fence in a curve of quiet ground,
And broken walls of gorse knee-high
Seem molten gold against the sky.
A swirl of tawny eddies sweeps
Between grey boulders, breaks and leaps
More swiftly to the lower ground,
As if it dreaded to be found,
A a if it spurned some dreamy spell.
Yet over this green cloister-cell
It loiters, pauses, coils, till clear
Its rippling grows within the ear,
Like slumber in a wearied brain.
Is there place here for grief or paiu
More than in some Illyrian bay ?
Is light there fairer or the play
Of shadows in the forest lawns?
Are the nights deeper or the dawns
More pearly ? This alone I know,
Warm in the crimson after-glow,
Hearing the cuckoo's last good-night
Float from the foam, seeing the light
Die on the rocks, or fade between
On the sharp blades of breathing green,
That I have lost Arcadia found
Within this spot of Highland ground.
S.
* Culloden Papers, pp. 103 4.
f This Act (of Attainder) omits all mention of the subordinate though older title of
"Lord Kintail," which he and all the collateral branches descended of George, the
second Earl, had taken up and assumed in all their deeds and transactions, though there
was no occasion to use it in Parliament as they appeared there as Earls of Seaforth It
is questionable therefore if the Act of Attainder of William, Earl of Seaforth, by that
designation only could affect the barony of Kintail; and as the designation to the
patentee of it, " Suisque heredibus maxulis," seeuis to render the grant an entailed fee
agreeable to the 7th of Queen Ai ne, o. 21, anfl the protecting clause of 26th Henry
VIII., c. 13, the claimant, George Falconer Mackenzie, is entitled to the benefit of such
remainder, and in fact such remainder was given effect to by the succession of Earl
George, to his brother Colin's titles as his heir male collateral. AUanyrange Service.
THE CELTIC MAGAZltfE. 91
M A E Y M E E I S R
o
[CONTINUED.]
POOR Mary was once again sent adrift friendless among strangers. She
took up her abode in the same house as her child ; and, under her own
* care, he began to improve slowly. What with keeping herself and pro-
viding some little extras for her boy, she too soon found herself almost
penniless. The landlady, on seeing her resources exhausted, requested
her to leave and seek other lodgings. She had to part with some of her
clothing to make up the few shillings she owed this woman, and left with
only a shilling in her pocket, and, carrying her sickly child, she made
her way along the coast towards Greenock. There has been always a
lingering feeling present with her attracting her to the original home of
her departed husband, though she knew no one there not even her
mother-in-law. The first night she paid the last money she had for their
bed and a little milk for the child. It was far on in the afternoon of the
second day when she came to the outskirts of Greenock. She sat down
on the road-side to think 011 what she was to do. She felt weak, hungry,
and exhausted, carrying her sick boy during so long a journey. Her poor
child felt sore with the carrying and even cried for bread. She had now
little of any value to dispose of to procure what would appease their
hunger, and thought on the seal her husband had given her. She took
it out of her bosom, where she always kept it, looked first at it, and then
at her fretful child, but oh ! could she part with it. She wept bitterly
till the child, poorly and hungry as he was, climbed up to her breast,
took her head between his white and wasted little hands, and kissed her
the only way in which he could express his sympathy with his suffer-
ing mother. This roused her to a sense of their condition. She rose up,
took the boy in her arms, and walked towards the town, determined to
sell the trinket for what it would bring, and so save the life of her child.
So intense were her feelings that she held up the seal in her hand toward
the heavens, and appealed to the spirit of her lost husband to witness the
necessity that compelled her to part with his gift. After getting into
the town she looked about for a shop likely to purchase such an article,
and soon noticed a large jeweller's shop, to which she went and asked an
elderly gentleman behind the counter if he would be so kind as to tell
her the value of the seal, at the same time handing it to him. He looked at
it, and then at her and at the child, and asked her where she got it. She,
in a hesitating manner, said she could not very well tell him where or how
she got it, but if he did not choose to let her know its value she would
thank him to hand it back to her. Instead of doing that he sent one of
his assistants for a police-officer, to whom he gave her in charge. Poor
Mary, led away by the man dumb as a sheep to the slaughter, was
put into one of the cells till morning. The jeweller wrote a note to the
Provost, who happened to be no other than Councillor Maccallum, owner
of the missing ship, Glencairn, stating that a strange young woman
with a child had called at his shop to dispose of a gold seal,
92 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
the same lie had some years before bought from him, and which he
had presented to the late Captain Graharae with a gold watch, and
that he thought it proper to detain her for examination in the morning,
as her statement might throw some light on the mysterious fate of their
late friend. Poor Mary could not imagine why she was so dealt with.
To the credit of the officer in charge at the station she was not put
among the diunken, disreputable characters usually found in such places
waiting for trial in the morning. He put her into a place more cleanly
and comfortable than the common cells. Seeing the weak and feeble
condition both of them were in, he procured some refreshments for
them. His long experience of the criminal classes enabled him at a
glance to judge she was none of that stamp. Next morning she was
brought before the Magistrates, and questioned as to how she came into
possession of the seal. All she would say was that she got it honestly
and was a gift to her by its owner. She did not steal it nor did she
deserve being put in prison for it, she persisted in saying, and that she
had it in her possession for several years. When pressed and threatened
to be separated from her child, she looked up in the face of the Provost,
who presided, and said that if that gentleman would take her statement
in private she would tell him how and when she got it. After some con-
sultation it was agreed that he should retire with her to a private room,
where she told him the simple story of her first meeting with Grahame
and their subsequent marriage. She also stated facts connected with
Grahame and the ship while at Tobermory that quite satisfied him that
her tale was true. He led her back to the court-room with as much
kindness and respect as if she were his own equal in social position, and
explained to his brother magistrates that she got the seal from the hands
of Grahame himself under circumstances which reflected no disgrace upon
her character, when she was discharged and the seal given back to her.
The Provost desired her to wait a little till the Court was over, as he
wished to speak to her again. She did so, and when he came to her he
handed her a pound note, at the same time giving instructions to one of
the officers of the Court to go along with her to procure comfortable
lodgings. He desired her to call at his house next day and see Mrs Mac-
callum. A few hours after leaving the Court she fortunately procured
lodgings in the house of a respectable working man not long married.
Everything about the house was in such good order and so clean that the
sight of it in a manner eased her mind of the effects of her late trials.
The blythe and happy-looking young wife very soon put her mind at
greater ease than she had felt for weeks rays of the dawn of better
days began to shine into her wounded heart. Her natural good spirits
responded to the cheerfulness of her more fortunate landlady, and when
the husband came home in the evening Mary found him, in course of
conversation, to be much better instructed than the generality of his
class. He was foreman over the joiners in one of the shipbuilding yards
in the town. Mary felt impressed with the evident care of an all wise
Piovidential guidance in directing her wandering steps to the abode of
this truly homely and happy pair. She very properly considered that the
disposer of every action of her life meant these trials for her good to draw
her closer to Himself by means of an intelligent perception of His character
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 93
as a God of love. When time came for retiring to rest, Mary knelt
down at the side of the bed on which her boy was already sound asleep,
and poured out her heart-felt gratitude for her recent deliverance. Next
day she made her way to the Provost's house. He was in when she
called, and both he and his lady received her very kindly. She gave
them some details of her husband's stay at Tobermory, their marriage,
and as much of her own private history as she thought prudent. Dis-
covering that the young widow was a good white seamstress, Mrs Mac-
callum promised to use her influence among her acquaintances to procure
work for her. In a few weeks Mary had as much as she could well
manage, besides employing her landlady's spare time. Her child daily
gained health and strength. She made enquiries about her late husband's
mother, and was told she was staying with some friends in the neigh-
bourhood of Hamilton. Hearing some time afterwards that her mother-
in-law had retured to Greenock, she lost no time in calling upon her.
The Provost's lady very thoughtfully asked Mary to allow her to accom-
pany her when she went to see her, as her testimony would be a confir-
mation to Grahame's mother of her daughter-in-law's statements. They
found her in a small room by herself. For support she did a little by
knitting stockings ; a few friends gave her a trifle now and then, which,
with a small pittance from the parish, managed to keep her in life. When
the aged widow was told of Mary's relationship with her lost son, she
could scarcely believe it, as she never heard him say anything about his
being married, and he never did anything, even of much less importance
than getting a wife, without asking her advice in the matter ; but after the
boy was presented to her, she had no more doubt of the truth of the
story. She at once declared that he was the very picture of his father
when about that age.
Mary was now in very comfortable circumstances, being able to lay
a little money past her from time to time. Her business increased so
much that she had to get an assistant from Glasgow, and by this time
she had some thoughts of taking a house for herself ; but after seeing her
mother-in-law she made up her mind to bring the aged widow home with
her. She told her kind friend and patroness, Mrs Maccallum, who highly
approved of her intentions. When the Provost came to know of it he
insisted on his being allowed to assist her in furnishing the house, and
when the house was taken, he not only provided the plenishing, as it was
there called, but sent men at his own expense to put everything in its
place, and Mary had little more to do in the matter than to come in and
take possession. She took her aged mother-in-law with her, and resolved
to give her all the comfort in her power, for the sake of him she loved so
well, now that she was 'deprived of the help he never failed to give his
mother while he was in life.
Mary, as we still like to call her, was about eighteen months in
Greenock, doing well and truly respected by all who had occasion to know
her. She was much improved in appearance, and really had a fine
cultivated lady-like deportment, which, no doubt, her constant contact
with the most accomplished ladies of the town helped to produce.
One morning, as one of the Liverpool traders came up to the quay, a
man stepped ashore and was on the point of walking towards the town,
94 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
when one of the brokers, who generally frequented the quay on the arrival
of ships, recognised him, and touched him on the shoulder. The stranger
turned round, and he held out his hand as if to a friend. Both walked
on in the direction of the buildings where most business men then had
their offices, and called at the Provost's office. It was too early in the
day for him to be there, but his chief-clerk, who had just come in, at once
recognised his fast and long-lost friend, Captain Grahame. After mutuul
congratulations, a cab was immediately sent for, in which they drove to
the residence of Mr Maccallum. His old owner at once recognised him
though he was much changed, being darker in complexion and much
thinner in comparison to his former robust and ruddy countenance. The
good man was as much affected at seeing him alive again as if he had
found a long lost son. While the two were closetted together Mrs Mac-
callum sent a boy with a note to Mary, desiring her to call immediately
at her house and to bring the boy along with her. When Mary read the
note she wondered Avhat was wanted at that time of the day. She, how-
ever prepared to go at once; for the lady had been too good a friend not
to attend to her wishes. When she and her boy arrived at the house
she was surprised to find the door-bell answered by the lady herself.
There was a something so tender and yet so hopeful in Mrs Maccallum's
looks and manner as she now and again gazed earnestly in Mary's face.
Entering a sitting-room Mary was puzzled by the unusual manner of her
friend, who felt at a loss how to break the news to the supposed widow.
She was still more surprised to find the lady beginning the conversation
by alluding to the loss of tho ship her husband had command of, instead
of, as she expected, some business transaction. Mrs Maccallum com-
menced by saying it was very strange no word was ever heard of the fate
of the Glencairu. Still, she had heard of vessels supposed to have been
lost with all hands, and yet some of the crews had cast up after a longer
time than their ship had been missing. Her manner of saying this, and
the fact that she seldom spoke to her on the subject for some time pre-
viously, awakened a suspicion in Mary's mind that she had heard some
news of the ship, which made her tremble. She implored her friend if
she knew anything not to conceal it any longer, at the same time assuring
her that she was prepared to hear the worst. The lady saw that to
keep her longer in suspense would hurt her more than the sudden
reality, and she rose up, saying she would call Mr Maccallum, as he knew
more than she could tell. She then went where the gentlemen were and
whispered in her husband's ear to come and bring Grahame witli him. No
sooner did husband and wife see each other then they were locked in each
other's embrace ; and, following the example of the Provost and his wife,
we shall in tho meantime leave them by themselves. When the latter
returned to the room they found Mary very calm but bearing evident
traces of the severe mental ordeal she had gone through. She had her boy
clasped to her breast, \vlio, whenever his father offered to sit near his
mother, frowned \\ ith his fine open brow. No coaxing or bribing could
induce Bobby to relax his hold of his mother.
As an additional proof of the kindness of Mrs Maccallum, she went
to Mary's house to prepare the elder Mrs Grahame for the joyful tidings.
To attempt a description of the meeting between mother arid son would only
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 95
marr the pleasure of all interested in the happiness of all concerned. True
and faithful friend as the Provost's lady was to Mary, she was the
means of raising the rather awkward question in the circumstances
Whether there was not some impropriety in Mary living with Grahame as
his wife merely on the binding of a Gretna Green marriage ? It was only on
the solemn promise of both that they would be joined over again by the
minister of the Gaelic Church that she would allow Grahame to live in
the same house with his wife.
After the first excitement of the restoration of the dead into life, as it
were, was over, and Grahame, his wife, and mother were left by them-
selves, it was most affecting to witness the old mother sitting beside her
son with her arm through his, holding him as if some one was ready again
to snatch him away, her disengaged hand resting on the top of his head,
her eyes fixed on his face, tears of joy streaming down her cheeks, saying
to her son, as well as her sobs and failing breath would permit her.
" Oh Robert, my son, never forget to your wife the kindness and tender-
ness shown by her to your poor lonely mother, since the day a kind
Providence directed her steps to where I was, when all other aids nearly
failed me." Then, taking hold of Mary's hand, and putting it into that of
her son, grasping them in her own trembling fingers, she said with solemn
impressiveness, her eyes looking upwards, " Let my end be soon or late,
may the Father of all mercies bless and prosper you both, now that you
are united," and " love her, Eobert, as I know she loves you." Then
taking hold of his arm again she continued " And.oh ! my son, where
have you been, and what has kept you away so long. Well do I know
that it was not with your will you stayed away from us."
He then told them that when they were two-thirds of the voyage out
they were attacked and boarded by an armed pirate, who had killed most
of the crew. None survived the fight but himself and other two all
severely wounded. They were taken on board the pirate, carried to the
stronghold of the robbers, and kept in strict confinement. What became
of the Glencairn they never knew. One of his wounded companions died
shortly after landing. He and the other slowly recovered, after which they
were obliged to work at whatever they could do in their prison house.
They never were let out without being well guarded, and then only when,
some piece of work was to be done outside.
About five months before the time he arrived home, in early morning
one day they were awakened out of their sleep by a great noise of
shouting and tumult among the colony of pirates. In a short time after
the booming of cannon was heard in the distance. The sound gradually
neared them, and then a heavy shot came crashing through a building
close to where they were confined. They started to their feet, expecting
the next shot would hit their cell, and hurriedly put on what clothes they
had. Shot after shot came tearing through the buildings. They could
distinctly hear the crashing of falling portions of the rude fortress. Soon
musket firing was heard close to them. By this they judged some armed
ship had attacked the place and landed men to take it. They felt mad
with excitement to be free and out to aid the evident enemies of their
captors whoever they might be. The fact of the heavy shots striking
everywhere but in the place they were in seemed to them a cruel mockery
96 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
of their misery. After an evident struggle on shore the noise and fighting
ceased, and an almost insufferable silence succeeded, and yet no way of
escape from their dungeon appeared to them. They imagined they heard
some groaning as if some one was in pain not i'ar from them. They
searched earnestly at every crevice in the walls, till they found one spot
where the cement which joined the stones Avas softer than the rest. At
this they picked with any piece of hard substance within their reach.
After hours of anxious toil they succeeded in removing a large stone,
through which they were able to get out of the dungeon. Their only
guide in groping their way in the darkness was the groans they pre-
viously heard. At length they came upon a wounded man one of their
captors who evidently was on the point of death. They raised him to an
easier position, and left him to die. They soon found their way out of
the ruins. Outside not a living creature could they see ; not a ship or
boat was on the water before the place, bearing the water-side they
observed iinmistakeable traces of the deadly struggle which must have
taken place there a few dead bodies lay in pools of blood all who were
able muot have escaped to the other side of the island. They then fell
in with a stout boat much riddled with musket shots. They patched the
holes as well as they could, went back to the ruins, and fortunately came
on some cooked victuals, which they carried to the boat, and set out to
sea. By this time it was dark. Towards morning they found themselves
entering on the open sea, and made all haste to get further out for fear
they might be seen from the land and chased. On the eighth day
they saw a sail ahead, which, after some hours, noticed them, and,
to their great joy, hove down upon them and took them on board. The
ship proved to be a French vessel bound for Jamaica. They were kindly
treated by the Frenchman, who landed them safe and sound when he
arrived at his destination. The man saved along with him shipped on
board an American for the East Indias, while he himself wrought his
passage to Liverpool as a sailor before the mast.
About three weeks after Grahame's return, a little old man called at
the office of Mr Maccallum asking to see him. Ho sooner was he
ushered into his presence and Ijeard him speak than he knew him to be a
Highlander. The Provost, himself a Celt, kindly told him to tell his
story in his native tongue. The stranger began by saying that he
was a cow-feeder in the Townhead of Glasgow, and some time ago he
bought some hay from a farmer near Largs, and paid some of the price in
advance. When the hay was sent to him he found it much damaged by
salt water through the leaking of the boat conveying it. He refused to
take it in that condition, and demanded back his money. This the
farmer would not do. Some of his friends in Glasgow advised him to see
Mr Maccallum, who would be sure to tell him the right way to go about
the matter. Mr Maccallum asked his name and address, as well as that
of the farmer. He said that his name was Donald Morrison, and though
he now lived in Glasgow he originally belonged to Skye. The Provost
asked how long since he left Skye and if he had any family. These
questions seemed to upset the poor old man, who appeared as if he had
been suddenly taken ill. A glass of spirits was procured, which soon
brought him round, when ho continued, saying, that he left his home in
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 97
Skye several years ago, but that he did not then come to Glasgow, but
went to Canada. That country did not agree with his wife, who never
was strong since they lost their only child, a daughter, a little before
they left. This satisfied the merchant that he was speaking to young
Mary's father, and when Mr Maccalluin went home, he sent a note to
Grahame desiring him to call with Mrs Grahame that evening. When
they came he told them of his visitor from Glasgow, which so excited
Mary that she would be off to Glasgow that evening to see her parents,
and was only persuaded from doing so by her husband promising he
would accompany her next morning. On arriving in Glasgow next day
they took a conveyance to the address in the Townhead, and on their
approaching the house they observed a young woman standing in the
door. Enquiring if Mr Morrison lived there, the girl, without saying a
word, ran into the house and left them. In a short time the old man
came out, and, looking earnestly at Mary, hurried to meet her without
noticing Grahame, and, taking her in his arms, exclaimed in a faltering
voice in his native language " Taing do Dhia gu bheil thu beo " (Thank
God that you are alive). The daughter hung upon his neck unable to
speak. Grahame himself, though he used to have more command over
his feelings, was obliged to turn aside to hide his emotion. All this time
the girl they had first seen stood with open mouth and staring eyes in the
passage. She then bolted through to the byre, where Mary's mother was,
shouting in Gaelic, " Oh, mistress, there is a grand lady and gentleman at
the door with a fine coach, and the master is kissing the lady." Mrs
Morrison hurriedly left off what she was doing, and came into the house.
By this time the strangers were in the room. When the mother saw
Mary she stood still, lifted her hands above her head, fainted away, and
would have fallen if Grahame had not taken hold of her and led her to
a seat.
While Mary attended to her mother in another apartment, old Donald,
in the best English he had, got into conversation with Grahame. He
soon understood that he was the sailor man for whom his daughter had
refused so many good matches, and that she was now his wife. He saw
Mary might have got a worse bargain, as he afterwards said that " the
honest man was stamped in his face." Donald went to a press in the
corner of the room, came back with a big bellied black bottle and dram
glass, told the girl to set some bread and cheese on the table, drew the
cork, filled up the glass, and, in accordance with the custom of his
country, took his son-in-law by the hand, drank off a glass to the health
and happiness of his son and daughter, re-filled the glass, handed it to
Grahame, who drank health and length of days to the old couple. The
mother, after getting over the effects of seeing her lost child restored to
her in life and health, joined the men. The aged pair seemed to feel as
if time had gone back many years. Donald especially spoke and acted
as if he had no other object in what remained to him of life than to atone
for what sorrow and misery his love of gear had occasioned to himself and
others. The conversation naturally turned upon how their daughter and
her husband had fared during " the dark years of their separation," as
Donald termed it, and what their views were now that they were re-
united. Mary, wife-like, was the first to speak, saying that if she could
H
98 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
help it her husband should never again take such long out-of-the-way
voyages. Grahamo said that although the pay in a coasting vessel was
not equal to that paid to captains in command of over-sea-going ships, he
would not go against his wife's inclination in the latter, and that perhaps
"by industry and carefulness, in a few years, they might save a little
money to buy a small vessel of their own. Here Donald again got up
and went to what he called his " kist," came back with a piece of paper
and handed it to Grahaine, who, after looking at it, gave it to his Avife.
She found it was. a bank deposit receipt for .300, and held it back to
her father again saying, that they could not think of taking it, as they
might need it themselves, when not able to do anything for a living.
The old man answered, " Tuts, tuts, lassy, take it, I have more left. I
got more than that with your mother." When Mary told her mother
she had a little boy at home with its other grandma, nothing would restrain
the old lady from going down to Greenock that evening to see her grand-
child. Old Donald declared that if she went so would he, and both
went back to Greenock with the young couple.
The Provost and his lady took such an interest in the extraordinary
episodes in the career of his friends, that they invited them all to meet
him one evening, before the old couple went back to their cows in Glas-
gow. Mary, with pardonable pride, told Mrs Maccallum about her
father giving her husband the amount of money already stated for the
purpose of purchasing a vessel. The Provost generously offered to
advance a certain sum towards the same object, and to give ample time
for repayment. Old Donald, elevated a little with an extra glass of the
Provost's whisky, gave the table such a thump as made everything upon it
dance before their eyes, saying that he would himself give another
hundred, so that they might buy a " wise-like vessel " when they were
about it. The selection and purchase of the craft was left to the judg-
ment of Mr Maccallum. Amidst all Mary's happiness her mother's
failing health caused her uneasiness. She prevailed upon her father to
give up their toilsome establishment in Glasgow, and to take a house near
herself in Greenock that she might the better see to her mother's comfort.
Her parents near her, her husband master of a handy vessel of his own,
Mary was indeed bappy. Still there was a source of some anxiety for
such a mind as hers the fear of her parents spoiling little Bobby, who
was scarcely ever away from them. He was so idolised by them that
his slightest wish or whim was attended to and gratified. Heavier
troubles were soon, however, to come to her. Mother .paid the debt of
nature, and in a few weeks after her mother-in-law was taken away. The
death of the latter she mourned as much as that of her own mother, for
she came to love her as much. After his wife's death old Donald went
to live with liis daughter. Grahame was well employed with his vessel
and making money ; his wife gave up her business ; her family increasing
she could not so well attend to it. Her father in a few years followed
his wife and was laid beside her. Grahame and Mary founded a family
in Greenock, who were well known for generations after them, and who
took their place among the most respectable of its citizens.
LODA.
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 99
OUE GAELIC BIBLE.
o
MANY readers of the Celtic Magazine have doubtless a vivid remembrance
of the controversy which not more than a dozen years ago was waged full
warmly as to the propriety of revising the authorised English version of
the Holy Scriptures. On the one hand, it was argued that, in common
honesty, we were bound to put in the hands of the unlearned the best
possible translation of the sacred volume a translation which, embodying
the latest results of modern criticism, and making our English Bible as
nearly as possible a living transcript to our common people of the original
sacred documents, would come home to them with full authority, and be
received without misgiving, as setting forth the mind of the Spirit and
the very truth of God. On the other hand, there were many men, un-
doubtedly learned as confessedly they were pious, who shrank from the
difficulties which, at this time of day, obviously stood in the way of a
new authorised version of the Bible. These difficulties were manifold, but,
above all other considerations, it was argued that the Christian world was
so divided, and the various sects were so bitterly opposed the one to the
other, that no new version, however excellent and honest, could ever be
received with the same confidence which all were willing, by a sort of
tacit understanding, to extend to the present version.
In such a controversy it belongs not to the Celtic Magazine to mingle.
As a matter of history we merely chronicle the fact, that the controversy
is now, and has been for some years, in the way of quietly settling itself.
For good or evil, the work of revising our English Bible is now about
half completed.
With the English Bible thus thrown into the crucible of revision, it
is natural that we should ask, how fares it with our own Gaelic Bible ?
What is its present condition, and how has it come to be what it is 1
Now it must not be forgotten that our Gaelic Bible c'ould at no time
be said to be " authorised " in the sense in which our present English
version is authorised. It never received any national or Parliamentary
sanction ; and there is no National Bible Board, to which is solemnly
committed the responsibility of securing the perfect purity of its text.
It is true that the Gaelic Bibles in circulation among Scottish Highlanders
for many years previous to I860 were issued with the authority and sanc-
tion of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. But the version
almost exclusively in circulation since 1860 has no sanction, either of the
Established or Free Church. In fact, that version rests entirely on the
authority of two names the names of Dr Clerk, of Kilmalie, and Dr
Maclauchlan, of Edinburgh. Several years ago an attempt was, no doubt,
made, by means of a joint committee of the two churches, to place this
weighty matter on a broader and firmer basis ; but the committee has gone
into abeyance without any practical result ; and so the broad shoulders of
the two learned gentlemen just named still bear the burden which, in
I860, they took upon themselves, or, to speak more correctly, which they
accepted at the hands of the National Bible Society of Scotland, Of the
100 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
merits or demerits of the version of these two gentlemen this is not the
place to speak. On such ground we are not critics but simple historians.
How did the Gaelic Bible come to be what it was previous to 1860?
On the threshold of this inquiry we are met by this curious fact, that the
Gaelic Bible first printed in Scotland, for the use of the Scottish Gael,
was not at all a Scotch Gaelic version. It did not, indeed, profess to be.
It was simply a transliteration of the Irish Bible : athruighte go haireach
as an litir Eireandha gu min-litir shol-leighidh Romhante: carefully
transposed from Irish to Roman type. The first issue of this Irish Bible
for the use of Scotch readers was in 1690. There is now before us a
copy of the rarer edition printed in Glasgow by loin On- in 1754. The
title page of the New Testament is as follows : " Tiomna Nuadh ar
DTighearna agus ar Slanuigheora losa Criosd, ar na tharruiug go
firinneach as Gregis go Gaoidheilg, re Uilliam Domhnuill. Noch ata
anois, ar inhaithe choitchinu Ghaoidhealtacht Albann, athruighte go
haireach as an litir Eireaudha go min-litre shol-leighidh Romhanta.
Maille ri suini agus brigh na Ccaibidleach os a ccionn an Tiodaluibh
aithghear ; le R. KIRKE, M.A." At the end of the volume a vocabulary
of eight pages is introduced with an address to a leaghoir chairdeil, in
which the author explains that he was moved to prepare this help to the
intelligent reading of the book, by reason of there being in it iomad focal
cmaidh do-thuigse, especially to such as were not familiar with snas
chanamhain na Heirinn. The Bibliotheca Scoto-Celtica of Reid gives no
place to either edition of this work in the List of Gaelic Bibles, though
both are mentioned at page 47 of the introduction. There is some con
fusion also in Reid's description of the Irish original. The Irish New
Testament, begun by Walsh and Kearny, he alleges to have been com-
pleted by a certain Nehemiah Donellan, and on the next page he speaks
of the Irish Prayer-book as the work of William O'Donnell, afterwards
Archbishop of Tuam. But the Irish Testament always, so far as Ave have
observed, bears the imprint, ris an tathair is onoruighthe a Ndia, UILLIAM
O'DoMHNUiLL, aird easing Ihuaim. We rather think that this William
was the real Nehemiah who completed the work of Walsh and Kearny.
But what is the significance of the fact that nearly 200 years ago Kirke,
a Scotch Highlander, the minister of a parish so entirely Highland as Bal-
quhidder must then have been, should provide Irish Bibles for general use
among his countrymen ? One conclusion seems to us irresistible -that the
Gaelic spoken in Ireland and Scotland at that time was much more nearly
one language than is the ease to-day. And aunt he i- conclusion may be set
down as self-evident, that the natural tendency of ' the 'twin forms of
speech to diverge yet more and more apart, each on its' several way, must
have been very materially checked by the use, so far as it was used, of
Kirke's Bible in the Scottish Highlands. That is to say, but for the
Bible of Kirke our living Scotch Gaelic would have been, in a large
measure, less Irish than it is to-day. Nor will our estimate of the actual
effect of this potential element, in our more recent linguistic history, be
at all lessened, when we consider how marked an effect it had on the
earlier versions of the Bible, which were given to our people in Gaelic,
professedly Scotch. The earliest of these is the New Testament of 1767,
prepared for the Society in Scotland for Propagating Christian Know-
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
101
ledge, by the Eev. James Stewart, minister of Killin. It breathes through-
out an unmistakeable aroma of its Irish predecessor. Space avails not for
long or many extracts ; let these suffice : an Soisgeul do reir Mhata ;
agus an uair do chunnairc losa an sluagli; an sin a dubhairt Peadar;
ach ni mar a cJioire, mar sin ata 'n saor-thiodklac. The Killin version
was doubtless, in many respects a great improvement on the Irish version
of the Archbishop of Tuam, but equally evident is it, as Dr Moulton *
says, of the early English versions of Tyndale and Miles Coverdale, in
their relation to the later authorised text, that " a multitude of passages,
remarkable for beauty and tenderness, and often for strength and vigour,
are common " to the earlier Irish and our later Gaelic version of the Holy
Scriptures. Indeed a careful comparison of these two versions will reveal
the fact, that for some of the chiefest beauties of our Gaelic Bible we are
largely indebted to Bedel and O'Donnell. To ignore this, or to slur it
over, would be not only ungenerous but unfair. Take, for example, as
test passages, these two sublime chapters, the 55th of Isaiah and
the 8th of Komans, which, perhaps, of the whole Bible are the best
known among our people. If our space would admit of the Irish and
Gaelic of both chapters being all set up in parallel columns, there are few
of our readers who would not be surprised to observe how little change
the latter has made on the former. A verse or two, taken at random, is
all we can give :
IRISH.
H tigeadh gach uilc dhuine tartmbor
chum na. nuisgeadh agus an te ag nach
bhfuil airgiod ; tighidh se, ccannchuidh
agus ithidh ; tigidh, fos, ceannchaidh fion
agus bainne gan argiod agus gan luach.
Creud fa ccaithighe argiod ar uidli nach
aran ? agus bhur saothur re nidh nach
sasuigheann ? eistigh go duthrachtach
riomsa, agus ithidh an nidh is maith, agus
biodh dull ag bhur nan am a meuthus.
Claonuidh bhur ccluas, agus tighidh
chugamsa : cluinidh agus marfidh bhur
nanain, &c, Isai 55, 1-3.
Agus ata a fhios aguiim go gcomhoib-
righeann gach uile nidh chum maitheasa
do na daoinibh ghradhuigheas Dia, iioch a
ta ar na ngairm do reir a orduighesion.
Horn. 8, 28.
Uime sin creud a dearam fa na neithi-
bhsi ? Ma ata Dia linn, cia fheadus bheith
ar naghuidh ? 31.
Oir ata dheirbhfhios agam nach budh
heidir le bas, na le beatha, na le hainglibh,
na le huachdaranachduibh, na le cutnha-
chtuibh, na leis na neithibh ata do lathair,
na leis na neithibh ata chum teachda, na
le hairde, na le doimhne, na le creatur ar
bith eile. sinne dhealughadh o ghradh De,
ata a Niosa Criosd ar Dtighearna. 38, 39.
An improved edition of James Stewart's New Testament appeared in
1796, under the care of his son, Dr John Stewart of Luss, who, in
GAELIC.
Ho gach neach air am bheil tart thigibhse
chum nan uisgeachan ; agus easan aig
nach 'eil airgiod, thigibh, ccannaichibh
agus ithibh ; seadh, thigibh, ceannaichibh,
gun airgiod agus gun luach, tioii agus
bainna.
Car son a ta sibh a' caitheatnh airgid air
ni nach aran? agus bhur saothair air ni
nach sasuich ? Eisdibh le deadh aire
riutnsa, agus ithibh an ni ata maith, aa;us
gabhadh 'ur n-anam toilinntinn ann an
cuilm shogh-mhoir. Aoniaibh 'ur cluas,
agus thigibh a' m' ionnsuidh-sa ; eisdibh,
agus mail-kill 'ur n' anam beo, &c.
Agus a ta fhios agaiun gu'n comhoibrich
na h-uile nithe chum maith do'n dream
aig am bheil gradh do Dhia, eadhon
dhoibhsan a ghairmeadh a reir a ruin.
Ciod uime sin a their sinn ris na nithibh
sin? Ma tha Dia leiun, co dh'fheudas bhi
'nar n-aghaidh ?
Oir ata dearbh-bheachd agam nach bi
bas, no beath, no aingil, no uachdaran-
achda, no cumhachda, no nithe a ta lathair,
no nithe a ta ri teachd, no airde, no
doimhne, no creutair sam bith eile, com-
asach air sinne a sgaradh o ghradh Dhe a
ta ann an losa Criosd ar Tighearn.
* The History of the English Bible. By the Kev. W, F. Moulton, M.A., D.D.
Cassell & Co.
102 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
a prefatory " advertisement," thus speaks of his lather's version: "In
the opinion of good judges, the work was executed in the most faithful
manner, and it has been well reqeived in every part of the Highlands.
The author, however, was himself sensible that it was susceptible of im-
provement, and in an interleaved copy [he] marked with his own hand several
corrections, which, in the present edition, have been carefully made.
With a view to its further improvement, the translation has lately, in
whole or in part, been revised by gentlemen in different parts of the
Highlands, who were every way qualified for that important task, and
who freely communicated their remarks to the editor. He has ventured,
however, to make no alterations, but such as, on critical examination,
appeared necessary and important, and such as the author himself, had
he been in life, would have probably approved."
How carefully, and yet with what filial tenderness, the younger
Stewart revised the work of his father, will best be seen by comparing a
verse from their several translations (John iii. 3), to which, for the readers'
convenience, the corresponding verse in the Irish Testament is added :
IRISH.
Do fhreaguir losa agus a
dubhairt se ris, Go dcimhin
deimbin, a deirim riot, nnuna
gheintear duine a ris nach
eidir leis rieghachd De
dfaicsin.
KILLIN.
Fhreagair losa agus a
dubhairt se ris, Gu deimhin
deimhin a deirim riut, mur
beirthear duine a-ris, nach
flieudar leis rioghachd Dhe
fhaicsin.
LUSS.
Fhreagair losa agua a
dubhairt e ris, Gu deimhin
deimhin a deirim riut, mur
beirear duine a ris, nach
feud e rioghachd Dhe
fhaicinn.
The change of se to e, Icirthcar to beirear, a-ris to a ris, nach feudar leis
to nach feud e, fhaicsin to fhaicinn, shows how minutely, and with how
critical an eye, the younger Stewart examined the work of the elder. Lut
why did he spare a dubhairt e, and a deirim riut? Was it because in
his day these expressions were counted good Gaelic ? Or was it only the
natural tendency of a pious man tenderly to spare every twig that could
possibly stand unpruned, in what to him was sacred and venerable as the
tree of life ? One thing is certain : no man who knows anything of the
life and character of Dr John Stewart will suppose for a moment that
these expressions, now branded as foreign to our Scottish Gaelic, were
allowed to stand either through want of care or through defective know-
ledge of what was then esteemed pure idiomatic Gaelic.
While, as Highlanders, we are? grateful to the Stewarts for their pious
labour, which was indeed to them a labour of love, as to our people it has
been a gift of peerless price, we must never forget our vast obligations
for this and many other munificent gifts, to the oldest, and still one of
the richest and most enterprising, of the religious associations of our land/
For it was at the request, and entirely at the expense, of the Society in
Scotland for Propagating Christian Knowledge, that the blessed work of
these two good and gifted men was executed.
Some account of the first version in Scotch Gaelic of the Old Testa-
ment, with the interesting episode of the connexion therewith of the Rev.
Dr John Smith, of Campbelton, and the completion of the Society's
labours in their noble edition of 1826, will furnish materials for another
paper on this subject.
DONALD MASSON, M.A., M.D.
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 103
B R A H A N OF STEEDS.
Song on the Earl of Seaforth.
(Translated from the Gaelic. )
Steed-famed Brahan Well-known, of my footsteps the throne !
Well-known haunt of the slender-limbed herd !
There thy bannered stag's-head, in thy need is broad spread,
Thou chief of the rich chequered shields !
May thy fame still increase, to thy footsteps be peace,
Seaforth thy late sounding title
Let the halls of thy Court re-echo the sport,
And the song of thy clansmen and revel.
From thy silver-cupped board in abundance still poured
Drink of various kinds might be named
There was rum, porter, and beer, wine, brandy, good cheer
With courage to fire thy young men.
Thy hall of a night e'en a duke would delight ;
When are met there the cunning musicians,
And the sun out of sight, with its strings stretched tight
The harp pours its music delicious.
Fran.k and pleasant wast thou to high and to low ;
Strong-limbed, stout, manly and gentle ;
Their support in thy might, free from backbiting spite ;
To thee was deceit ever hateful.
With our chief loved so well, rise we sons of Kintail,
From the foe oft for him won AVC honour ;
Maclennans the glorious, in battle victorious,
Courageous, commanding in valour.
With thee rise to the work sons of " Murchadh-nan-Corc,"
Whom terror could never restrain ;
Youths in beauty's bloom blush, in their green strength they rush
Unchecked by appeal in their fury.
When the pikes are drawn rife, ready, keen for the strife,
Lopped limbs and heads gashed wide they scatter,
Source of deepest delight at thy back standing tight,
Sons of Roderick of Farabairn Tower.
To their arms swiftly take the Macraes for thy sake,
Who to battle rage roused never tremble ;
Mark them ! generous and deft, of their calmness not reft,
Rushing on red-hot in their thunder.
When fiercely they stride, huddled close side by side,
Heads are seen carved with wounds gaping ghastly,
And their heel's on the foe, tumbled breatnless below
By the play of the men of the back- stroke.
104 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
To thy side flock together Clan Donald of the heather ;
Macleods to a man in their anger ;
And from Assynt-the-North pour but gentlemen forth ;
With thee stirs no tattered Catlander.
Macintoshes right brave, well-equipped armies gave,
Their bannered tailed cat streaming broadly ;
Clan-Chatan pike-bearing in battle-strife shearing,
To their knees bring submissive the red-coats.
In his pomp comes so proud, Earl of " Cromba " from Leod,
From his ancient and surge-beaten tower ;
With his handsome array, ordered well for the fray,
Raging stags with their antlers bare-chafing.
When thy back-sword with speed is unsheathed in thy need,
Swift, manly and free they'd encounter,
Till, in tumult and rout, wheels the foe right-about,
Hot pursued by the victors swift-stepping.
In thy retinue came the Macleans of great fame,
Stout-limbed with the hue of the hunter ;
Their muskets bright beaming, and burnished swords gleaming,
And lances the back-stroke to parry.
On the grassy sward green, where they tread, May be seen
Corses gory in death grim distorted ;
Swiftly dashing in strife where the danger is rife,
The heroes in Scotch garb undaunted.
In the Court of thy peers, one more honoured none hears,
Nor useless concealed is thy wisdom ;
Calmly bold and with grace, keen discussing each case,
Standing true on the side of the Scotsman.
To thy kinsmen a crown, great chief of renown !
Encamp with thee striplings deft-handed ;
And brave youths with a will to the conflict rush still,
When aloft streams the stag's-head thy standard.
In the grasp of thy might was thy clan-land held tight,
In despite of the champions red coated ;
Ammunition in plenty, trim muskets, swords dainty,
Over kilts thickly plaited these hadst thou.
To thy skill in the field, is the foe forced to yield,
Thy might and thy valour erincing r . ,
Bear my fond regards flashing, over Conon swift dasl^ing,
To Brahan, fair silver-cupped Brahan.
GLASGOW. FINLAY MACRAE,
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 105
HACO, THE DANE, OR THE PRINCE'S WOOING.
A TRUE ROMANCE OF LOCH-MAREE, IN THREE PARTS.
By J. E. MUDDOCK, author of "A Wingless Angel," " As the Shadows
Fall" " Lovat, or Out in 'the '45," fa, fa
PART III. (AND CONCLUSION) REVENGE.
ALTHOUGH terribly wounded, and utterly prostrated through loss of blood,
Prince Haco still lived, and in about an hour's time he recovered con-
sciousness. The moon was sinking below the horizon, but the stars still
looked down coldly and silently on the wild and savage region. A gentle
breeze blew across the loch and broke its surface into wavelets that
skipped and danced in the weird gleame of the pale light, and beat the
shore in a strange melody of sadness. For a considerable time Haco was
at a loss to understand or realise his position. His brain was dazed and
muddled. He was lying upon his back, and his left arm was swollen
and stiff, while a gaping wound showed itself in the fleshy part of the
neck on the right side. All around him was a gory pool, and his pallid
and death-like features were splashed with clots of blood. His hair was
matted and hung in wild disorder about his face, and his dress was so
gashed and torn that it hung in shreds from his body.
Bad as the wounds of the young prince were, however, they had not
penetrated to any vital part. And the life that had been so nearly going
out slowly returned, and very gradually the incidents of the night dawned
upon him, and he remembered how he had met and fought the terrible
Red Hector of the Hills. The Prince groaned. Despair, rage, and pain
were mingled, and to add to his misery he was consumed by a burning
thirst. His tongue seemed too large for his mouth, and his lips were
puffed and cracked. That horrible thirst was unendurable. He heard
the wash of the water on the stone at the edge of the loch, and it seemed
to mock him. With the desperate energy of despair he partly raised him-
self, and through the blood-like mists that had gathered before his
dimmed eyes, he gazed across the rippling waters to where in the purple
shadows the Isle Maree lay.
" Ah, my beloved ! " he murmured in his agony, " is it to be that we
are never to meet again 1 Is there no good spirit will whisper to you
now, and tell you that your lover lies wounded unto death? Oh, for
your gentle hand to bind up my wounds, and to moisten my parched and
burning throat. Tnyra, Thyra, my beloved !" he cried.
His words were echoed by the mountains as if in mockery, and then
there was silence again. Then the wounded man made another desperate
effort to rise, and to drag himself down to the edge of the water. The
exertion caused the blood to gush forth from his wounds again, but better
to bleed to death, he thought, than suffer the unutterable agony of thirst.
Despair and suffering lent him strength, and he was enabled to crawl
along the ground half a yard or so at a time. He persevered and slowly
and painfully worked his way down until the water was reached. Then
106 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
he almost fainted from the joy of having succeeded. He got his face close
to the water and he dashed the cold and refreshing fluid into his mouth
and throat. It was nectar it was more, it was life ! At that moment
the draught of water was worth a king's ransom. Prince Haco laved
himself in the precious fluid and drank of it until he seemed to grow
strong and whole again. The senses were deluded, however, for when he
attempted to stand up he found himself as helpless as a babe but newly
born. Dragging himself beneath the shelter of a boulder, he sank down
prone upon the earth, and there stole upon him a horrible and unutterable
sense of loneliness. He knew that not far off there were those who
would have sacrificed their own lives to save his ; but no hand was near
to minister to his dire needs, and he must perforce die for want of
assistance.
Insensibility came upon him again, and there was a long^blank. The
night grew old. Down sank the moon, leaving the loch wrapped in one
great impenetrable shadow, out of which came the voice of the waters, and
occasionally the mournful cry of some sea bird. Gradually the darkness
commenced to break in the east. A cold grey succeeded the blackness,
and this in turn gave place to warm flush, rosy at first until it deepened
to crimson, and soon the mighty sun came in a glory of gold and red, and
with his shafts of fire he smote old Slioch and the surrounding hills
until they were burnished into a resplendent brightness.
The freshness of the morning air, and the warm rays of the rising sun
had a stimulating effect on Prince Haco, who had lain all night under the
starlit canopy of heaven while Death and Life wrestled for him. He
opened his heavy eyes, and though weakness and loss of blood had
brought on delirium, there was one name that rang in his dazed brain,
and that name shaped itself on his lips it was the name of Thyra.
It so happened that on this particular morning and by one of these
strange chances which often induce one to think that Fate is something
more than a name two monks were despatched from Isle Maree on a
special mission to one of the religious houses on the mainland. They
landed at the usual landing-place, which was close to where the Prince
was lying. Then their attention was attracted by a deep groan of pain,
and but for this they might have passed on without observing him, but
now as they saw the wounded man they uttered a cry of alarm and hurried
forward to instantly recognise Haco, the Dane, in the death-pale and
blood-stained man who Avas stretched amongst the ferns. The two monks
held a hurried consultation, and then decided to convey the Prince to the
island as speedily as possible, where he would have the advantage of the
wonderful skill of the Father Superior, whose fame aft a leach had spread
throughout the country ; and in addition to this tlic gentle Princess could
nurse him, and the holy men were there to shrive him if his end ap-
proached.
Actuated by these considerations the men raised the Prince between
them, and carried him to their boat. Then they rowed quickly back to
the island. The news, of course, soon spread, and as soon as the Princess
Thyra heard it she flew at once to the presence of her lover unrestrained
by the remonstrances of the Father Superior. She forgot every thing else
in the one all absorbing thought that he who was dearer to her than life
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 107
was lying stricken well nigh unto death, and that it was her duty to tend
and watch him, and win him back to health and strength again, if that
were possible.
Ah ! how very gentle she was. At first she wept until her little eyes
grew red ; but this was a very natural and pardonable womanly weakness.
She grew calmer in a little while, for she recognised her duty, and nobly
and bravely did she do it. For weeks the Prince tossed and raved in the
delirium of a dreadful fever, the result of his wounds, and the exposure
he had endured. But watching over him like a ministering angel was the
gentle girl who tried to anticipate his every want.
At length her care and attention Avas rewarded, for the fire of the
fever died out, and Haco's wounds commenced to heal. For weeks he
had lain all unconscious of her presence, but now as he learned all, and
recognised who his gentle nurse had been, he could only fold her in his
arms and weep for very joy.
From that moment he made rapid progress towards recovery. The
favourable turn having once set in, it was not long ere he was enabled to
get about.
The news of the duel had, of course, spread throughout the country,
and the Prince's followers had made a vow to take Eed Hector of the
Hills and put him to the torture. But they reckoned without their host.
Hector was too old a fox to be caught napping, and he was too well
acquainted with his native mountains not to be able to find shelter from
his pursuers. At any rate none of those who sought him were able to
find any trace of him. He had disappeared as effectually as if he had
sunk into the dark depths of the loch. What had become of him was a
mystery to all, save, perhaps, his own immediate followers. And as time
wore on, and not the slightest clue to his whereabouts could be got, a
belief gained ground that he was dead.
Day by day Prince Haco grew stronger. His wounds had quite healed,
and little or no trace of the terrible illness through which he had passed
remained. He still lingered on the island, although he was repeatedly
urged, nay commanded, to return home to his own country. But love
was a stronger power than any other that could be brought to bear ; and
no man could have loved more truly, more honourably, or more devotedly
than he. Perhaps it was a foolish love, but when was love ever wise ?
When did it ever run smoothly ? In the case of this young couple it was
destined to lead them into destruction.
One morning as the lovers walked in the little garden attached to the
monastery, the Princess said, " Yesterday a special messenger brought me
bad news."
" Indeed !" the Prince exclaimed, as a flush of excitement came into
his pale face. "'Bad news ! nay, I hope, my beloved that you have been
misinformed. But tell me what is this news?"
" I am summoned to proceed to Ireland without a moment's loss of
time, as my father lies at death's door."
" That is bad, indeed," was the sorrowful rejoinder. " And when do
you purpose leaving 1 ?" he asked after a pause.
" To-morrow, an' the wind hold fair."
" To-morrow!" the Prince echoed, then sank into a gloomy silence
108 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
but suddenly he stopped in his walk, and looking the Princess full in the
face, he said, " And how long do you intend to be absent?"
" Alas ! I cannot tell that."
" But you will return?" he asked anxiously and excitedly.
" Yes."
" You will promise me this?"
" Yes."
" As you hope that your immortal soul may be saved ?"
" As I hope that my immortal soul may be saved," she answered a
little sadly, as though the implied doubt had stung her.
When the hour of parting came, Prince Haco did not exhibit any
great outward sorrow, but it needed no very keen observer to see that he
was moved deeply. He accompanied his betrothed on board the galley
that was to convey her down the loch, and when he took leave of her at
the mouth of the river he caught both her hands in his, and peering into
the wondrous depths of her blue eyes, he said with passionate earnestness
" Princess, you take my heart with you. By the God we both
worship, I conjure you, use it well; and if you would have me live,
come back soon."
" Lose not faith in me," she answered, as the tears blinded her, and
her bosom throbbed with the wild emotion she tried so hard to suppress.
" Only one thing shall ever prevent my returning."
" And that is " Haco interrupted impatiently. " Death."
Their farewell was a long and sad one, and then they parted. A fair
wind was blowing, and soon the galley sailed out of sight ; and then, with
a heavy heart, Prince Haco ordered his men to row him back to the
island, where he intended to reside until the Princess came back. In the
course of a week or two the poignancy of his grief had worn itself out,
and being now perfectly restored to health, he once more indulged in the
sport and excitement of the chase, although he never went out now with-
out being accompanied by a strong and well-armed retinue.
One day as he and his followers were returning from the White
Mountains, where they had been hunting, an old man suddenly placed
himself in their path. Peremptorily and rudely he was ordered to move
out of their way, but the Prince's good nature prompted him at once to
ride forward and address the man.
" Who are you, and whence came you my good fellow?"
" Alas, your highness, I am a homeless wanderer. A warrior has
carried off my cattle. My only son was killed the other day while climb-
ing yon broken crag in search of a lost sheep, and the sight of the boy's
mangled body drove my poor old wife raving mad, and she drowned her-
self in the loch.
" A sad story, truly," sighed the Prince ; then turning to one of his
followers, he ordered him to give the old man substantial alms.
Drawing himself up, however, with pride and dignity, the man re-
plied with great scorn, " Prince, I am no beggar."
" What dost thou seek, then ?"
" To be allowed to enter your highness's service."
" Well, thou art modest, at least," cried the Prince, as he laughed heartily ;
" but what canst thou do? Thou art old and weak, and all but useless."
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 109
The man's face grew red, and it almost seemed as if fire came out of
his eyes as he clutched a staif he was carrying with a vice-like grip, and
the muscles of his arms stood out like cords.
" Useless," he echoed, then softening his tone, and changing his man-
ner, he continued, " Pray, mock me not, your highness ; there is life and
vigour yet in these limbs, as your highness shall discover an' you will but
engage me."
" An' I do this, wilt thou prove faithful ?"
" Aye."
" And never forget the kindness I do thee ? "
Something like a sneer of bitterness came into the man's face as he
made answer and said
" Eonald Macleod never yet forgot a kindness, as he never yet forgave
an injury."
" Come, thou art engaged, then," cried the Prince, laughingly, " I see
there is fire in thee yet."
" Fire," the man hissed with strange energy, " fire ! aye, if thou didst
but know how I burn for revenge."
" Eevenge !" echoed the Prince and several of his followers in astonish-
ment.
" Is it so strange that an old man should be desirous of revenging a
great wrong 1 "
" "Wrong, and against whom?" asked the Prince.
" No matter," was the almost sullen answer. " A sleeping memory
has been aroused, and for a moment I forgot myself. When shall I
enter your highness's service 1 ?"
" To-morrow, and it please thee."
" To-morrow it shall be," the man returned, as he bowed and moved
on one side, and the Prince and his suit moved on.
" There is something in that fellow that does not please me, Prince,"
one of the suite remarked, as they got out of the man's hearing.
"Tut, man, thou art full of strange whims and fancies. I will
warrant me the rascal is honest enough," the Prince answered.
" I pray heaven that it is so," the speaker remarked as if to himself.
At noon on the following day Eonald made his appearance on the
island, and the Prince at once appointed him to a position of some trust,
and so much desire did the man display to please his new master that the
Prince was drawn towards him, and in a very short time had become at-
tached to him.
Three months passed, and then the Prince commenced to weary for
the return of his affianced. He had had no word from her since she went
away, and he became a little anxious and troubled. He had stationed
some of his servants at Poolewe, with instructions that when they espied
the vessels of the Princess they were to despatch a mounted courier to
him instantly with the news. Day after day went by until suspense had
become almost unbearable ; but at length the courier arrived, with the
joyful intelligence that three vessels were in sight, and the leader of them
bore the royal flag of Ireland.
The Prince was elated and excited in a more than ordinary degree,
and he was about to issue orders that a reception should be organised
110 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
that would do honour to his noble bride. But at this moment Ronald
crept up to him, and whispered
" Master, I am strangely troubled, and I pray you give me a few
minutes that I may get speech with you."
" Not now, Ronald ; not now. Thou shouldst not speak oi trouble
at such a time as this, but joy, and only joy."
" Nay, master of mine, I must speak. It is to your highness's interest
that I should do so."
There was something so earnest, so impressing in the man's tone that
the Prince looked at him in astonishment, and then said
" If what thou hast to say is so serious, I will give thee two minutes ;
two minutes, remember, and not a second longer."
He turned aside with Ronald, and when they were alone, Ronald
said " I have had a dream "
" Tut, man," interrupted the Prince petulantly, " is it for this only
that thou wouldst waste my time."
" Be not so fast, master. I have dreamed my dream three nights
running, and by the heavens above us there is truth in dreams. Nay,
turn not away, but listen. What wouldst thou do an' thy lady-love
were dead?"
The Prince started and turned ghastly pale, and his lip quivered as
though a current of electricity was passing through it, he stammered
" Dead ! What do you mean?"
" I ask what wouldst thou do an' she were dead ?"
" Rascal, why dost thou torture me by even daring to ask such a
question?"
" Nay, be not angry ; I cannot help my dream."
" Help thy dream," the Prince cried, while his face was pale even to
a shyness.
" Aye, thrice have I dreamed that she was dead, and I fear me that
my dream is prophetic."
For some minutes the Prince was silent ; he seemed to be struggling
with some terrible emotion that almost overpowered him, but at last, in a
hollow voice, he said
" Why hast thou told me this? Why hast thou dared to cloud the
sunshine of my joy ?"
" Dared !" Ronald echoed, while his whole manner seemed to change,
and a look of fierce pleasure came into his face, although it escaped the
notice of the Prince, who was deeply absorbed in his own reflections.
" There is nothing under heaven I would not dare " Then he checked
himself suddenly, and said, " An' this dream should be true "
" An' it should be true," the Prince cried, " an' it should be true, I
would plunge this dagger into my own heart." He drew a jewelled
poignard from its sheath at his girdle as he spoke ; but thrusting it back
again with impatience and anger, he said, " Ronald, thou art a fool and a
knave." He was striding away, but suddenly turned, and as if ashamed
of having spoken so sharply, he remarked, " I forgot myself. I should
not allow the babble of an old man to disturb me. Pardon me, Ronald ;
I have been hasty."
" But if it should be true ?" Ronald asked with strange emphasis.
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. Ill
" 'But?' Why dost tliou torture me with ' But?' It cannot be."
" Cannot it ? Nay, who can tell ? "
" Eonald, dost thou wish to drive me mad ? I feel almost as if I
could strike thee to the earth for having dared to torture me by telling
me thy idiotic dream. By the holy Virgin thou hast made me unhappy,
and I shall need the priestly consolations of the good Father Superior to
enable me to endure the dreadful suspense until I am assured that my
beloved Princess is well."
" I have a plan, an' your highness approves of it."
"What is it? Speak."
" I will go out and meet the vessels."
" Well, well ; and what then ?"
" As soon as we enter the loch, I will, if the Princess is well, hoist a
red flag, which thou wilt be able to see if thou wilt mount to the tower
of the monastery."
" That is a good idea ; but if she should not be well, what then?"
" If she should be dead," Ronald replied in a strange tone, while he
seemed to glare on the unfortunate Prince, " If she should be dead, a black
flag shall float from the peak."
" Go then," answered the Prince, trying hard to restrain the feeling of
nervous trepidation that had, in spite of himself, seized him, " but re-
member that the black flag would be the signal for my death. I could
not live without her." He turned away and went into the monastery;
and then, with a step that had in it the lightness and fleetness of a young
man rather than that of an old one, Eonald hurried down to the boat
that was moored to a rock. With lusty and vigorous strokes of the oars
he pulled himself clear of the island, and in a few minutes more was lost
to sight.
Hours passed away. The night closed in. A restless, weary night it
was to the Prince. Hope and fear alternated in his breast, and suspense
almost drove him mad. When the sun rose he mounted to the top of the
tower, but he found that the range of vision was very circumscribed,
owing to the other islands ; and so he ordered two of the monks to row
him to the opposite shore, where he scaled a high peak, and waited
in breathless anxiety. Presently a speck was visible in the far off blue
distance looking towards the sea. The speck gradually grew larger, until
it assumed the shape of a vessel. A flag was flying at the peak, but as
yet it was impossible to make out its colour. The Prince's head throbbed
wildly with the fever of excitement, and he strained his eyes until they
ached. The vessel drew nearer, and then the blood rushed back frozen
upon the Prince's heart as he saw that the flag was black.
When Eonald had gat out of sight of the island he pulled a powerful
and long stroke that was 'not at all compatible with his aged appearance.
His little boat flew over the water, and he was enabled to meet the vessel
of the Princess soon after she and her suite had embarked on board at the
mouth of the loch. Making his way to where the Princess stood radiant
with health and happiness, and anticipating the pleasure of the meeting
with her lover, he bowed low and said
" Madam, I come as a messenger from Prince Haco."
" Ah ! welcome, doubly welcome ; and how fares my lord ? tell me
quickly."
112 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
" He is well, lady."
" Bless thee for that news," cried the delighted girl ; " thou shalt
have gold for it. " And tell me and be not niggard of thy speech, man
tell me is he impatient for my coming."
" Aye, indeed, lady ; and so anxious was he to be assured of your
highness's health that he bade me hoist a red flag an' thou wast well, but
if thou wert not well a black flag was to fly at the peak."
" Dear, dear Haco," the happy girl murmured to herself.
" I have a plan, your highness, whereby we may have some sport,"
Ronald observed artfully, " as well as test the devotion of thy lover."
" Indeed, and what is that, good friend ?"
" Hoist up the black flag."
" Nay, that would be cruel," exclaimed the Princess with a little laugh.
" Not cruel, your highness, since it would prove to you how strong is
the Prince's love."
The Princess considered for some moments, and a smile lighted up her
beautiful features. Her woman's vanity was tickled, and she was tempted
to put her lover's affection to the test. Ronald, who had watched her as
a hawk that watches its prey, saw that she hesitated, and urged her so
strongly that at last she gave orders that the red flag which was then
flying should be hauled down and a black one run up. The captain was
puzzled by this, but he had no alternative but to obey, although he
thought the whim a strange one. As the sombre folds of the flag floated
out on the breeze a smile of intense satisfaction came into Ronald's face.
As the vessel neared the island the Princess felt great difficulty in re-
straining her impatience, and her heart bounded with joy as she heard the
wooden anchor splash into the waters as the galley was brought up under
the lea of Isle Maree. But, alas ! that joy was soon to be turned to
sorrow. She ordered the boat to be manned, and then stepping in she
bade the rowers row quickly. As soon as ever the boat touched the
strand she sprang out and was met by the Father Superior.
" And where is the Prince?" she cried, all surprised to find that he
Avas not there.
" Thou shalt know, my child, directly," was the answer.
" But why comes he not to meet me ? Is he well ?"
" We trust, daughter, that he is well."
There was something in the man's tone that alarmed her, so that the
colour fled from her face ; and turning upon him quickly, she demanded
" What has happened ? For the love of heaven if anything is Avrong
keep it not from me ; and that something is Avrong I gather by thy tone."
" Alas, daughter, that it should be my duty to tell thee the bad neAvs."
" Bad neAvs," she gasped in a holloAV Avhisper. " Lives he, or is he
dead?"
" Have courage, my child, and may the Mother of Jesus guard thee.
Thy lover has slain himself. God rest his soul" The holy father told
his beads, and Avith a wild cry of heartbreaking despair Princess Thyra
threAV up her arms and fell prone upon the earth.
Ronald and some of the men from the boat raised her, and by the in-
structions of the holy father bore her to the monastery. All day long she
lay as one in a trance, but toAvards the night she recovered her senses.
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 113
Then she demanded to know how the Prince had died, and very reluctantly
she was informed that seeing a black flag flying, he, under the belief that
she was dead, plunged a dagger into his heart. For a little time the
reason of the Princess seemed shattered, but at length an unnatural calm-
ness came upon her, and she asked to see the body. At first this request
was refused, as it was feared that the sight would really affect her to
madness ; but she vowed that she would see it come what may, and so
the Father Superior offered to go to the room where the Prince's bodyjlay.
" I pray thee, in the name of the Virgin, leave me," she said when
the room was reached. " I would be alone for a few minutes with my
dead lover."
The father hesitated for some little time, for he was afraid to leave
her ; but she at last commanded him to go, and he said
" Wilt thou promise solemnly thou wilt not harm thyself?"
" Yes."
" Then I will give thee fifteen minutes."
When the Princess was alone she turned towards where the Prince's
body lay on a low truckle bed. Lights were burning at the head and
foot of the bed, and the body was covered with a sheet. The wretched
girl tottered across the room, and with trembling hand drew the sheet
from the ghastly face. Then with a sob that told how terrible
was her agony, she bent down and placed her lips to the forehead of this
too faithful lover, and so great was her grief that even tears refused to
flow. Presently she was startled by these words, which were hissed into
her ear
"Kevenge is sweet."
She raised herself up, and turned quickly round, and before her stood
Ronald, but no longer bent with seeming age. He was straight and
powerful looking now, and his face was horrible in its expression of un-
utterable hatred.
" Ronald Villain, this is thy doing," she faltered, as she put
her hand to her throat, for a sensation of choking had come there. The
room swam before her eyes, and she leaned heavily against the bed.
A hard, cruel, almost demoniacal smile played about the man's mouth
as he answered
" My name is not Ronald."
" Who art thou, then?" she gasped, like one in a dream.
" Red Hector ^of the^Hills," he hissed. " I told him that I never yet
forgave aiynjtiry. I amjfally revenged IIOAV."
Tho Princess Thyra wttered a gurgling cry, and reeling round as
though a bullet had suddenly gone through her heart, she fell across the
body of her lover.
When the holy father returned Hector had fled, and the Princess was
motionless. In wild alarm the good man raised her up but only to find
that her pain had ended, and she had joined her lover in the world
that lies beyond the grave.
Two graves were dug adjoining each other, and the ill-starred Prince
and Princess were laid head to head. On the slab that covered his grave
the monks carved a runic cross, and on her's a crucifix.
From that night Hector of the Hills disappeared, and no one knew
i
114. THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
where he had gone to, but some months afterwards a body was found
floating in Loch Rosque, at the other end of the gloomy Glen Docherty,
and that body was recognised as Hector of the Hills, Retribution had
overtaken him, but how he came to be drowned was never known.
Eeader, if ever it is your good fortune to be in the sternly grand, and
wildly magnificent region of Loch Maree fail not to visit the little gem-
like island known as Isle Maree. Tread reverently, and muse awhile
amidst those solemn memorials of the past age (when this wonderful dis-
trict was peopled only by warring clans), the time-worn stones that mark
the graves of the sleepers long long forgotten. In the very centre of the
island two slabs are placed flat and end together. On the one is a beauti-
ful runic cross, and on the other an exquisitely carved crucifix. Uncover
your head and keep silent while the summer breeze, as it whispers amongst
the branches overhead, tells you the story of the faithful lovers the un-
fortunate Danish Prince and Irish Princess who sleep so peacefully now
in that little island solitude, and who loved each other so well in life that
death could not divide them.
THE HIGHLANDER NEWSPAPER In our last issue we pro-
mised to discuss in this number the causes which led to the then unfor-
tunate position of the Highlander. Our principal object was to indicate
that the upholding of the Highlander newspaper was not the hopeless
enterprise the apparent fate of the special organ of Highlanders seemed to
point, to. The management was most undoubtedly at fault, otherwise
the extensive circulation which, to our certain knowledge, the paper had
acquired would have secured for it financial success. Now that it has
got into the hands of one man, who, with almost superhuman efforts, is
heroically carrying it on, apparently, against the combined efforts of the
Fates, we hope to see the concern succeeding in Mr Murdoch's hands
to the extent which his indomitable perseverance and faith in the cause
of his Highland countrymen deserve. This result will be accepted by us
as the best possible proof of the correctness of the opinion we had formed.
In these circumstances it is unnecessary that we should at present go
into details.
THE SCOTTISH CELTIC EEVIEW.Xbis is the title of ;i new
Celtic periodical which the Uev. Alexander ("ann-roti, Brodick, is arrang-
ing to bring out quarterly as soon as a sufficient number of subscribers is
secured to justify him in doing so. Mr Cameron is one of our very best
Celtic scholars, and we wish himself and his new quarterly every possible
success. We are by no means afraid of him. On the contrary we
welcome him with genuine pleasure. While we shall pay every possible
deference and respect to our big brother, our older though smaller selves
are now so well acquainted with the nooks and crannies of existence that
we have no fear whatever that this heavier, and probably more dignified
member of the Celtic family will ever overtake us or do us any harm.
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 115
FIRST HIGHLAND PARLIAMENT-MEETING IN GLASGOW.
' ' '
A MEETING of delegates from the various Celtic Societies favourable to the formation
of a Federal union was held in the Bath Street Assembly Booms, Glasgow, on the even-
ing of Wednesday, the 28th November. There was a good attendance of the general
public, all of whom seemed to take a deep interest in the proceedings.
Councillor MACKENZIE, Inverness, moved that Bailie MACDONALD, Aberdeen,
take the chair, which he did, and thanked them for the great honour they had conferred
upon him in asking him to preside at the inauguration of the Federation of Celtic
Societies. (Applause.) He hoped this Federation would be worthy of their country, of
themselves, and for the future good of Highlanders generally. (Applause.) They were
often accused of being divided among themselves, but he hoped that henceforward they
would be able to show to the world that they had the old spirit still remaining and
would still stand " shoulder to shoulder," and act as one man for the good of the High-
lands and Highlanders. (Applause.) He trusted that they would not fall out by the
way, but that the proceedings would be marked by a uaanimity and goodwill worthy of
themselves and the cause which had brought them together. (Applause.)
Mr ALEX. MACKENZIE, of the Celtic Magazine, provisional secretary, reported the
various steps he had taken to bring the various Celtic Associations together, and
and other matters regarding the Federation. He read a list of the various Asso-
ciations who had agreed to join the Federation, when it was found that the following
Associations had sent delegates to the meeting: Gaelic Society of London, Mr Colin
Chisholm ; Gaelic Society of Inverness, Mr Alex. Mackenzie ; Aberdeen Highland Asso-
ciation, Bailie Macdonald ; Hebburn Celtic Society, Mr W. Matheson ; Edinburgh Uni-
versity Celtic Society, Mr D. Munro Fraser ; Greenock Highland Society, Messrs Neil
Brown, S. Nicholson, and Hugh Mackay ; Greenock Ossianic Club, Mr Orr ; Tobermory
Gaelic Society, Mr H. Mackinnon. The following Glasgow Associations were repre-
sented : Comunn Cfaidhealach, Messrs J. G. Mackay and H. Whyte ; Skye, Messrs C.
M. Ramsay, secretary, and A. W. Macleod ; Islay, Messrs M. Smith and Nigel Macneill ;
Sutherland, Messrs W. M. Sutherland, president, andJA. Sutherland, secretary ; Cowal,
Messrs Macgregor and Mackellar ; Lewis, Messrs Angus Nicholson and M. Macdonald ;
Lewis (Literary), Messrs A. Macdougall and D. Macleod ; Tir nam Beann, Mr D. Mac-
pherson ; Mull, Messrs Mackinnon and Macdonald ; Ardnamurchan, Messrs H. C.
Gillies and J. Macdonald ; Gael Lodge of Free Masons, (609), Brothers A. Nicholson and
Duncan Sharp; Fardach Fhinn, I.O.G.T., Brothers D. Maepherson and Nicholson;
Comunn Gaidhlig Eaglais Chaluim Chille, Messrs A. MacEachnie and P. C. Macfarlane.
The Birmingham Celtic Society were unable to send delegates to the meeting, but ex-
pressed their adhesion to the Federation.
Letters of apology for unavoidable absence were read frosa Mr John Mackay, C.E.,
Swansea, and Mr John Murdoch, Inverness.
Bailie MACDONALD then moved the first resolution as follows : " That the High-
land Societies which have delegated specially accredited representatives to this meeting
resolve to form themselves into a Federation to be called ' The Federation of Celtic
Societies.'" He said the resolution was so plainjthat it required nothing to be said re
garding it, and he simply moved its adoption.
Mr NEIL BROWN, Greenock, in seconding the motion, said he was not one of those
who would like to go to extremes on this Highland question. While he considered that
every effort should be used to elevate and improve the condition of the Highlanders he
would not like to gee the Highlands covered over again with poor crofters. It would
have been a wise and a prudent poliey to have preserved the Highland peasantry when
they had them. Had that been done the country would not have witnessed the humi-
liating spectacle that Britain presented when she was under the necessity of drafting
Hindoos to show the world that she was in possession of soldiers (loud applause) thus
testifying to the significant fact that by carelessness not t use a stronger term she
had allowed the best nursery of soldiers nay, he should say of men that ever existed
to be destroysd. (Renewed applause.) She had permitted those who had carried the
116 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
British flag over many a hard and bloody field, to be evicted or expatriated from their
native land, in order that their beautiful glens and adamantine snow-clad mountains,
might be converted into game preserves, to afford sport to strangers, ignorant alike of
the habits, language, and nature of the Gael. (Loud applause.) He held that this dis-
astrous policy having been acted upon, he would not like to see his countrymen induced
to remain in the Highlands as poor crofters, unless some industries were opened up to
give scope to their ambition, and prove worthy of their intelligence and race. (Hear,
hear.) It was all very well at one time, when all their associations for many generations
were connected with certain localities. (Applause.) A sacrifice was then often made to
perpetuate the unbraken line. But those patriarchal links were severed, and the High-
lander of to-day took his place in the race of business, or trade, or anything else where
he was as able to compete from his mental capacity as any other. (Applause.) Perhaps
the history of the world did not furnish an analogous case to that of the Highlanders
while they were tyrannised over, ill-used, rack-rented, and finally expatriated, not a
single powerful voice was raised in their behalf not a single combination was formed
for their protection. (Applause.) They found their natural protectors, the descendants
of their chieftains, their greatest foes, and with shame and humiliation let the state-
ment he made that the ministers of religion, with the exception of a few cases, did not
show themselves the faithful shepherds who would die fr their Socks. In one word
the Gaels were left friendless, and the descendants of those who had fought and con-
quered for Britain in every quarter of the world were often obliged to erect miserable
tents on she sea-shore and in the churchyard. (Applause.) A paternal government
should not have permitted this, but if the vengence of the Almighty was slow it was
likewise certain. For this reason he would not like to see tha Highlands repeopled un-
less for the benefit of the Highlanders and not for the benefit of a Government that had
used them carelessly if not cruelly. He had great pleasure in seconding the motion,
and hoped the Federation would meet with every encouragement from the various
Societies. (Loud applause.) The resolution was carried unanimously.
Mr ALEXANDER MACKENZIE of the Cdtic Magazine, representing the Gaelic Society
of Inverness, moved the next resolution, as follows : " That the object of the Federa-
tion be the preservation of the Gaelic language and literature ; the encouragement of
Celtic education in schools and colleges ; and generally the promotion of the interests
of Highlanders in accordance with the spirit and constitution of the affiliated societies."
Mr Mackenzie thought this a very judicious and wise resolution, and he had much plea-
sure in moving its adoption. (Cheers.) Highlanders worthy of the name would never
differ as to the necessity of preserving the language and literature of their ancestors.
(Applause.) Nor, he hoped, the desirability of encouraging Celtic education in our
schools and colleges. (Cheers.) Such a resolution was also most opportune, for an elec-
tion of School Boards would soon take place in March or April next throughout all
Scotland, and he trusted this Federation would consider it their first duty to bring in-
fluence to bear upon every candidate for a School Board in .the Highlands, in favour of
teaching Gaelic in the schools, and so take advantage of the concession made by the
Educatin Department last year to have Gaelic teaching conducted during ordinary school
hours, if the respective School Boards so desired, and have the same paid for out of th
ordinary school rates. (Cheers.) Some people said this was no real concession at all, and
lie agreed with them so far, that it was not very material unless the School Boards did
their duty, but the School Boards were elective bodies, and would have to do what their
constituencies demanded of them, and he hoped, indeed he had no doubt at all on the
subject, that every candidate would be asked the question, Would he support the Teack-
ing of Gaelic in the Schools under his board? and an answer obtained in the affirmative
before any Highlander consented to extend him his support. (Applause.) To see that
this was done throughout the Highlands at the forthcoming election would be one of the
most important duties of the Celtic Parliament during tuo first your of its existence,
and a most important duty it was. (Cheers.) He waAfl^^^lpcd to do his duty in the
Highland Capital (cheers) and he trusted they would extend him all their influence
to get a teacher of Gaelic reinstated in the Royal Academy of i i accordance
with its original constitution. (Applause.) For sever. ., had a Gaelic teacher in
that Institution one of the most brilliant ornament; id tlion in the room,
representing the Edinburgh University Celtic Society 1>..vid Munro Fraser,
(loud cheers) who not only carried everything before him at Inverness, but also iu the
University of Edinburgh, and of whom all Highlanders had occasion to be proud (loud
applause) as one who would yet shed lustre on his native Highlands, and its principal
Seminary. (Cheers.) They should also, in every possible manner, aid those who were
engaged in preserving the literary gems still to be found with our old men and women
in the valleys and straths of the Highlands. (Hear, hear.) Most of those engaged in
that work were perhaps carrying one characteristic of the case too far too proud to
ask for assistance, but that was one reason why such a federation as they had now
formed should extend their support all the more ; and they could do it by their recom-
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 117
mendations and influence without taking any financial risk whatever. See how they
could recommend and otherwise support that splendid work now being performed, at
great risk and expense, by Mr Archibald Sinclair. (Loud applause.) His "Oranaiche"
was, out sight, the best value in every respect which ever issued from the Gaelic press.
(Cheers.) They should and must support such men and such work. (Cheers.) They
should also encourage struggling bards who had the genuine spark in them, and some
such still existed amongst us. (Hear, hear.) He would say nothing about his own work
he never could beg (applause), but he was nevertheless always grateful for such sup-
port as could fairly be expected, and for which he always tried to give value. (Cheers.) If
he did not do so he felt he had no right to expect their aid. (Hear, hear.) He would say
nothing about the last clause of the resolution, except that it seemed to him to have been,
very wisely drawn up. It was very comprehensive. The most rabid politician amongst
them could under it introduce any subject for their consideration, without going out-
side the Constitution, and could carry it if it were founded on reason and common sense.
He would, however, require to convince the majority that it was so, and he (Mr M.) had
any amount of faith in the majority of such men as were appointed representatives on
this occasion. This clause in the resolution was quite satisfactory to moderate men like
himself (laughter) who did not believe in this Federation taking up extreme questions
ef party politics or ecclesiastical questions of any kind. (Cheers, and hear, hear.) They
hoped to carry the majority along with them by fair argument and sound common sense ;
and, if they did not, he felt sure the Federation would split up into fragments as soon as
they departed from the paths of prudence and moderation. (Cheers.) He had much
pleasure in moving the resolution placed in his hands, which, as he already said, he con-
sidered in the circumstances, a most judicious and wise one. (Loud cheers.)
Mr COLIN CHISHOLM, ex-President of the Gaelic Society of London, seconded,
in an eloquent Gaelic speech of which the following is the substance. He was proud
to attend as the representative that night of his old and worthy associates, the warm-
hearted and enthusiastic members f the Gaelic Society of London (cheers), which was
the premier Gaelic Society of Great Britain, and which celebrated its centenary about
two years ago. (Loud applause.) It was with credentials from such a society that he
crossed Druimuachdar to appear at the meeting there that night. (Cheers.) In their
name, and with his own hearty concurrence, he begged to second the resolution pro-
posed, and advocated so forcibly, by Mr Mackenzie. He (Mr M.) said a great deal,
and that so much.tojthe point (cheers) that there was scarcely anything left for him to
say. But he would give them his opinion of the meeting. It was now over forty years
since he attended the first Gaelic meeting in England, and, according to his view, he
never saw a meeting before South or North so well calculated to prove beneficial to the
Highlands as the one held that evening. (Applause.) Unity, goodwill, and brotherly
feeling were animating the whole assembly, and if he were not mistaken these excellent
sentiments were being fixed in the mind, and engraved on the hearts of every man in
that assembly. (Cheers.) He would be much surprised if success and happiness were
not the outcome of such a meeting. They now had twenty-one well organized Celtic
Societies enrolled under the banner of Federation. (Loud cheers.) They were firmly
bound together into one powerful organisation, while each Society would still continue
to act independently and solely under its own specific constitution ;md bye-laws. (Hear,
hear.) He stated his opinion, that the meeting was the most unanimous meeting of
Highlanders that ever took place in the City of Glasgow- (cheers) and he sincerely
hoped that time would prove his assertion correct. United, and shoulder to shoulder,
their well regulated and temperate but firmly expressed demands would command the
respect of the Legislature, frem the Queen downwards. (Applause.) He would not
take upon himself any longer to tender advice to gentlemen much wiser than himself.
No doubt they would excuse him for all he said whea they remembered that he was an
old, bald headed man, bordering on the Psalmist's limit of threescore and ten, and one
who has -done some little service in the Celtic field. (Loud and continued cheers.) Whe-
ther David was right or not (laughter) he (Mr C.) could assuredly tell them that he was
iu no hurry at present to go and make his acquaintance. (Great laughter.) He evi-
dently did not know what metal the Highlanders were made of, or he would never have
said any such thing. (Loud laughter.) He would say a few words regarding what fell
from Mr Brown, Gveenock, who said that for his part he would be sorry to see the High-
landers goiug back to tke Highlands if they were only to be wretched crofters like those
who now remained there. God forgive those who sent the Highlanders away, and who
were responsible for the position of those left behind. (Cheers.) But would Mr Brown
rather see his countrymen as we saw hundreds of other people on the streets of Glasgow
that very day? perambulating the streets in sheer poverty j deprived almost of clothing
to cover their emaciated bodies ; hunger gnawing the very soul out of them ; cold
piercing them, the colour of health gone, and their cheekbones almost projecting through
their skin, scarcely able to stand erect, while receiving a miserable pittance from
the charitable to keep soul and body together. He would leave Mr Brown to cogitate
118 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
these matters, but before parting he entreated him to use all his influence to keep and
maintain his Highland countrymen on the land of th< ir birth. (Cheers.) If Mr Brown
went to the Highlands he would there see hundreds of square miles converted into fe-
rests for wild beasts, while Christian men and women, burn and reared on these lands
were swept away and heaped together in the large towns, generally there placed in layers
almost as thick us herrings in a barrel. It was really painful to see so much of the best
grazing and arable land throughout the Highlands cut off from the use of man, while
the forest lands annually extended, and the space allotted for human beings were'yearly
curtailed. (Cheers.) It would not do to be faint-hearted. Let them remember what
Ian Loin said on the eve of the battle of Auldearn
" 'N ainm Dhia deanamaid turn,
Le aobhar misnich chum cliu,
Ach bha mise uair
Anns bu mho mo -cheutaidh."
Let them work amicably together, shoulder to shoulder, and they would immensely
benefit their native land. (Immense cheering again and again renewed.)
Mr WILLIAM SUTHERLAND, President of the Sutherland Association, moved "That
each society joining the Federation be entitled to send two representatives to the meet-
ing of the Federal Council, and pay an equal amount towards the necessary expenses of
the Federation." The larger societies, such as the Gaelic Society of Inverness, he ex-
plained, desired the representation and the contributions to the central fund to be in
proportion to the numbers on the roll of each society, but the smaller societies, in the
most spirited manner, declared in favour of equal representation and equal payment to
the expenses of the Federation. -(Cheers.) It was the desire of the smaller societies
themselves to contribute as much as the more wealthy associations ; and at the preli-
minary meetings held, and at which all the resolutions were fully discussed, this was
unanimously recommended. (Applause.)
The motion was seconded by Mr SAMUEL NICHOLSON, Greenock, who pointed out
that Mr Chisholm misunderstood Mr Neil Brown's remarks about Highlanders going
back to the Highlands to become impoverished and wretched crofters like most of those
who now lived there. (Cheers.) Mr Brown would be delighted to see them back again,
like every other patriotic Highlander, if they were valued and treated there as they
ought to be. (Applause.) The resolution was carried unanimously.
Mr GILLIES moved " That the office bearers consist of a president, three vice-presi-
dents, two secretaries, and a treasurer, that they be elected annually, and that the
office-bearers be for the current year : President, John Mackay, Esq,, C.E., Swansea ;
Vice-Presidents, Bailie Macdonald, Aberdeen ; Messrs Duncan White, and Nigel Mac-
neil, Glasgow ; Secretaries, Councillor Alex. Mackenzie, Inverness, and Mr William
Sutherland, Principal of Albert Educational Institution, Queen's Park, Glasgow ; Treas-
urer, Mr Macdonald, of the Ardnamurchan Society, Glasgow." These gentlemen, he
said, possessed the necessary qualifications of courage combined with prudence. The
motion was seconded by Mr A. W. MACLEOD, of the Skye Association, andjcarried unani-
imously.
Mr ANGUS NICHOLSON, of the Gael Lodge of Free Masons (609), moved, and Mr
ORR, Secretary of the Greenock Ossian Club, seconded the following : " That the fore-
going resolutions be the constitution of the Federation till next annual meeting, and
that said constitution can only be altered then or at any future annual meeting by three-
feurths of the delegates assembled in council, who have been duly summoned to such
annual meeting by circular addressed to the respective secretaries of t lie affiliated societies
by either of the secretaries of the Federation ; and that meanwhile a committee, con-
sisting of the Glasgow delegates, be appointed to draw up bye-laws aud regulations.
Mr CHARLES M. RAMSAY, Secretary of the Skye Association, then called for a
hearty vote of thanks to the Chairman and the other gentlemen who had come from a
distance to take pnrt in the proceedings, particularly Councillor Mackenzie and Mr
Colin Chisholm. It was principally owing to the untiring efforts of the editor of the
Celtic Magazine, who had hitherto acted as Provisional : Secretary, and who, he was
glad to find, had, after considerable pressure, consented to continue as one of the secre-
taries, that the Federation of Celtic Societies had now been so successfully consummated.
(Loud applause.)
The CHAIRMAN said, in reply, that he was proud to have had the honour of presid-
ing at the first meeting of our first Celtic Parliament. Mr Mackenzie also replied, and
explained that he left home determined not to continue in the secretaryship, but he
found that none of the Glasgow gentlemen would accept the responsibilities of the
office, which, he admitted, would not be light. He, however, consented to continue for
another year on condition that Mr William Sutherland, whose business capacity as
TliE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 119
chairman at the preliminary meetings he much admired, would become joint secretary.
This Mr Sutherland finally consented to do, and he was now doing the duties, and no
doubt would continue to do them well (cheers) and da them all, while they insisted
upon Mm (Mr Mackenzie) sharing the honours with him. (Laughter.) He had no
hesitation, however, in predicting that the work would be done well between them, if
Mr Sutherland found it necessary to seek for aid from the Highland metropolis. (Loud
cheers.) The meeting was in every respect a most complete success, far more so than
the most sanguine of its promoters ever anticipated. (Cheers.)
The members for Glasgow met since the meeting, and, as instructed, framed rules
and bye-laws. We can only spare space to give the substance of them. The sum to be
subscribed by each society was fixed with power to the Council to make a further levy if
necessary. The financial year of the Federation is to terminate each year on the 15th
September. The annual meeting will be held early in October. Societies wishing to
join the Federation must intimate their desire to either of the Secretaries, not later
than 15th September. In addition to the annual meeting, three stated meetings are to
be held during the year, and any special meetings may be called on the written requisi-
tion of any five of the affiliated societies. It is also provided that absent representatives
may vote by mandate. We regret this, and trust that, after full consideration, this rule
will not be confirmed by the Council. To vote now-a-days upon any important question,
without hearing the discussion thereon, is out of all keeping with our ideas of what the
intelligent age in which we live demands, and quite unworthy of the enlightened and
influential position which Highlanders desire to see the Federal Council of Celtic
Societies taking up for itself.
TULLOCHARD.
- -- 0- -
The Mackenzies are out on the heather to-night,
Clan Donuil ! Clan Donuil, beware !
With revenge in their bosoms they rush to the fight,
Like wolves when aroused from their lair.
O'er the heath ! o'er the heath, see them swift bounding,
Claymores are glancing and bright is each shield,
Pealing far ! pealing far, wildly is sounding,
The slogan of moutaineer lords of the field ;
Loud in Glengarry its echo is heard
Tullochard ! Tullochard ! Tullochard !
Awaken Glengarry ! come muster your braves,
Clan Donuil ! Clan Donuil, be men,
Sweeping on like a tempest that darkens the waves,
The Cabarfeidh comes to your glen.
Up and do ! up and do, linger nor tarry,
Where is your valour when danger is nigh ?
Stand as one I stand as one, men of Glengarry,
And give to their challenge a welcome reply.
Nearer and nearer the slogan is heard
Tullochard ! Tullochard ! Tullochard
,
The might of Glengarry is broken for ever,
Clan Donuil ! Clan Donuil, may mourn,
The blood of the bravest runs red in the river,
The valiant will never return.
Fire and sword ! fire and sword, flashing and leaping,
Proudly Mackenzie leads on in the fight,
Clan Donuii ! Clan Donuil, thy children are weeping,
And Cilliechriost's flames are avenged with delight.
Dire was the day when the slogan was heard
Tullochard! Tullochard! Tullochard!
ALLAN.
120
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
MO NIGHEAN DUBH THA BOIDHEACH DUBH.
In moderate tin"-.
:*=2
Chonm Mo nighdean dubh, tha boidheadh dubh, Mo nighean dubb na treig mi.
^
& P> H
1r-j~tr
Oed theireadh each gu'ni bheil thu dubh, Cho geal 'san gruth leam fein thu.
J:fc
fat
S
Do shuilean mur na dearcagan, Do ghruaidh air dhath na ceire,
D.C.
:*=*
1
ut
^ r \f h/
_ATT^
Tha cnl do chinn air dhreach an fhithich, 'S gradh mo chridhe fein dut.
Kay F.
1, | d ., r : m . r I m ., s : d' . 1 | s ., m : m . r I m : 1, .
1, | d ., r : m . r
Fine.
. s : d 1 . 1 | s ., m : m . r | d : d .
.m | 1 ., d 1 : t .s
.t :1 .s | 1 ., d 1 : t . s | 1 :1 .
D.C.
. t | d 1 ., 1 : s . s | 1 . t : d 1 , 1 i s ., m : m . r | d : d . II
Suil chorracb, ghorm fo chaol mhala,
Bho'n tig an sealladh eibhinn,
Mar dhealt camhannaich 's an Earrach,
'S mar dhruchd meala Cheiteiu.
Mo uighean, &c.
Tha fait dubh, dualach, trom neo-luaidhte,
'N ceangal sguaib air m' euchdag ;
Gur boiilheach e mu d' cbluasaibli
'S cha mheas' an cuaileiu breid c.
Mo nighean, &c.
Is olc a rinn do chnirdean orrn,
Is rinn ind pairt ort fein deth,
Nuair chuair iad as an duthaich thu
'S mi 'n duil gu'n deanainn feurn duit.
No nigbean, &c.
NOTE. The above are a few verses of the popular song "Mo Nighean Dubh tba
Boidbeach Dubb." Tbe song has been attributed to several authors generally clergy-
men and perhaps some of the readers of the Celtic Magazine will establish wb really
was the author. The air more commonly sung in some parts of the country to
tha woids, is "A man's a man for a' that," but there ia another old Gaelic air to which
it ia Bung that which is given here. W. M'K.
THE
No. XL. FEBRUARY 1879. VOL. IV.
HISTORY OF THE CLAN MACKENZIE,
WITH GENEALOGIES OF THE PRINCIPAL FAMILIES.
BY THE EDITOR.
[CONTINUED. |
XVIII. KENNETH, LORD FORTROSE, which courtesy title he bore as the
subordinate title of his father, and under this designation we find him
named as a freeholder of Ross in 1741. In the same year he was re-
turned Member of Parliament for the Burgh of Inverness ; for the County
of Ross in 1747, and again in 1754. In 1741, the year after Earl
William's death, the Crown sold the Seaforth estates, including the lands
of Kintail and the barony of Islandonain, and others, for the sum of
25,909 8s 3^(1, under burden of an annuity of 1000 to Frances, Countess
Dowager of Seaforth. The purchase was for the benefit of Kenneth, Lord
Fortrose, our present subject.* He does not appear to have passed much
of his time at home, but in the last-named year he seems to have been
in the North from the following warrant issued by his authority, signed
by "Colin Mackenzie, Baillie," and addressed to Roderick Mackenzie,
officer of Locks, commanding him to summon and warn Donald Mac-
kenzie, tacksman of Lainbest, and others, to compear before "Kenneth,
Lord Fortrose, heritable proprietor of the Estate of Seaforth, at Braan
Castle, or before his Lordship's Baron Baillies, or other judges appointed
by him there, upon the 10th day of October next, to come to answer
several unwarrantable and illegal things to be laid to their charge."
Dated "at Stornoway, 29th September 1741." There appears to be no
doubt that in early life Lord Fortrose had communications with the re-
presentative of the Stewart family during his father's (Earl William)
exile. It is the general tradition to this day in Kintail that Kenneth
Fraser's History of the Earls of Cromartie.
122 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
and Sir Alexander Macdonald of Slcat, were school companions of Prince
Charles in France, and were among those who first imbued into his mind
the idea of attempting to regain possession of his Kingdom of Scotland,
promising him that they would use their influence with the other northern
chiefs to rise in his favour, although, Avhen the time for action came, neither
of them arose themselves. The position in which Lord Kenneth found
himself left, in consequence of the Jacobite proclivites of his ancestors,
and especially of his father, appears to have made a deep impression upon
him, and to have induced him to be more cautious in again supporting a
cause which was almost sure to land him in final and utter ruin. Though
he held aloof himself several of the clan joined the Prince, most of them
under the unfortunate Earl of Croinartie. Several young and powerful
Macraes, who strongly sympathised with Prince Charlie, though without
any of their natural leaders, left Kintail never again to return to it,
while, it is said, several others were actually bound with ropes by their
friends to keep them at home. The influence of the famous President
Forbes weighed very materially with Lord Fortrose in taking the side of
the Government, and, in return for his loyalty, the honours of his house
were, in part, afterwards restored.
In 1744 an incident occurred in Inverness in which his Lordship played
a conspicuous part, and which cannot well be passed over, exemplifying as
it does the impetuous character of the Highland Chiefs of the day. A
Court of the Freeholders of the county was held there at Michaelmas to
elect a collector of the land tax, at which were present, among others, Lord
President Forbes, the Laird of Macleod, Lord Fortrose, Lord Lovat, and
n>any other leading members of the Clan Fraser. A Avarni debate took
place between Lord Lovat and Lord Fortrose upon some burning business,
Avhen the Chief of the Frasers gave the Chief of the Mackenzies the lie
direct,. and the latter replied by striking his Lordship of Lovat a smart
WOAV in the face. Mutual friends at once intervened between the distin-
guished antagonists. The Fraser blood Avas up, hoAvevcr, and Fraser of
Foyers, Avho Avas also present, interfered in the interest of the Chief of
his Clan, but it is said, more in that capacity than from any personal esteem
he had for him. In his chief's person he felt that the Avhole Clan Avas in-
sulted as if it had actually been a personal blow to every one of the
name. He at once sprung doAvn from the gallery and presented ;i loaded
and cocked pistol at Lord Fortrose, to Avhoin it Avould undoubtedly have
proved fatal had not a gentleman present, Avitli great presence of mind,
throAvn his plaid over the muzzle, and thus arrested its deadly contents.
In another instant SAvords and dirks Avere draAvn on either side ; but the
Lord President and Macleod took hold of Fortrose and hurried him out
of the Court. Yet he no sooner gained the outside than one of the
Frasers levelled him to the ground Avith a bloAv from a heavy bludgeon,
notAvithstanding the efforts of his supporters to protect him. The matter
was afterwards, Avith great difficulty, arranged by mutual friends, be-
tween the great clan and their respective chiefs, othenvise the social jeal-
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 123
ousies and other personal irritations winch then prevailed throughout the
whole Highlands, fanned by this incident, would be sure to have produced
a bloody feud between the Erasers and the Mackenzies.
Shortly after the President had arrived at Culloden he wrote a letter to
Lord Eortrose, under date of llth October 1745, in which he informed his
correspondent that the Earl of London came the day before to Cromarty,
and brought some "credit" with him, which "will enable us to put the
independent companies together for the service of the Government and
for our mutual protection." He desired his Lordship to give immediate
orders to pick those which are first to form one of the companies, in order
that they might receive commissions and arms. Mackenzie of Fairbum
was to command. There was, he said, a report that Earrisdale had gone
to Assynt to raise the men of that country, to be joined to those of Coig-
each, who were said to have orders to be in readiness to join him, and
with instructions to march through Mackenzie's territories to try how
many of his Lordship's vassals could be persuaded, by fair means or foul,
to.join the standard of the Prince. The President continued, " I hope
this is not true; if it is, it is of the greatest consequence to prevent it. I
wish Fairburn were at home ; your Lordship will let me know when he
arrives, as the Lord Cromartie has refused the company I intended for
his son. Your Lordship will deliberate to whom you would have it
given."*
Exasperated by the exertions made by President Forbes to obstruct the
designs of the disaffected a plan was formed to seize him by some of the
Frasers, a party of whom, amounting to about 200, attacked Culloden
House during the night of the 15th of October, but the President being
on his guard they were repulsed. t
On the 1 3th of October Lord Fortrose writes that he surmised some
young fellows of his name attempted to raise men for the Prince ; that he
sent expresses to the suspected parts, with orders to the tenants not to
stir under pain of death without his leave, though their respective masters
should be imprudent enough to desire them to do so. The messengers
returned with the people's blessings for his protection, and with assurances
that they would do nothing without his orders, " so that henceforward
your Lordship need not be concerned about any idle report from benorth
Kessock."
Lord Fortrose in a letter dated " Brahan Castle, 19th October 1745,"
refers to the attempt on the President's house, which surprised him ex-
tremely, and " is as dirty an action as I ever heard of," and he did not
think any gentleman would be capable of doing such a thing. "As I
understand your cattle are taken away, I beg yon will order your steward
to write to Colin, or anybody else here, for provisions, as I can be supplied
from the Highlands. I am preparing to act upon the defensive, and I
suppose will soon be provoked to act on the offensive. I have sent for a
strong party to protect my house and overawe the country. None of my
Kintail men will be down till Tuesday ; but as the river is high, and I
have parties at all the boats, nothing can be attempted. Besides, I shall
* Culloden papers, pp. 421-2.
t Culloden papers, p. 246.
124 THE CELTIC MAGAZINK.
have reinforcements every day. I have ordered my servants to get, at
Inverness, twelve or twenty pounds of powder, with a proportionable
quantity of shot. If that cannot be bought at Inverness, I must beg you
will write a line to Governor Grant to give my servant the powder, as I
can do without the shot Barrisdale has come down from
Assynt, and was collared by one of the Maclauchlans there for oifering to
force the people to rise, and he has met with no success there. I had a
message from the Mackenzies in Argyllshire to know what they should
do. Thirty are gone from Lochiel ; the rest, being about sixty, are at
home. I advised them to stay at home and mind their own busine.s^"
On the 28th of the same month he writes to inform the President
that Cromartie, his son, Macculloch of Glastullich, and Ardloch's brother,
came to Brahan Castle on the previous Friday ; that it was the most un-
expected visit he had received for sometime, that he did not like to turn
them out, that Cromartie was pensive and dull ; but that if lie knew
what he knew at the date of writing he would have made them prisoners,
for Lord Macleod had since gone to Lochbroom and Assynt to raise men.
He enclosed to the President the names of the officers belonging to the
two Mackenzie companies, and said that he offered the commission to
Coul and Redcastle ; but that both refused them. It was from Coul's
house that Lord Macleod started for the north, and that vexed him. On
the same date the President acknowledges receipt of this letter, and says
that the officers in the two companies should be filled up according to his
recommendations, "without any further consideration than that you judge
it right," and he desires to see Sir Alexander of Fairburn for an hour
next day to carry a proposal to his Lordship for future operations. " I
think," he writes, " it would be right to assemble still more men about
Brahan. than you now have ; the expense shah 1 be made good ; and it will
tend to make Caberfey respectable, and to discourage folly among your
neighbours." In a letter of 6th November the Lord President writes, " I
supposed that your Lordship was to have marched Hilton's company into
town (Inverness) on Monday or Tuesday ; but I dare say there is a good
reason why it has not been done."
On the 8th November his Lordship informs the President that the
Earl of Cromartie crossed the river at Contin, with about a hundred men,
on his way to Beauly, " owing to the neglect of my spies, as there's
rogues of all professions." Lord Macleod, Cromartie's son, came from
Assyut and Lochbroom the same day, and followed his father to the ren-
dezvous, but after traversing the whole of that country he did not get a
single man. "Not a man started from Ross-shire, except AVilliam, Kil-
coy's brother, with seven men, and a tenant of Redc.istle with a few
more, and if Lentran and Terradon did go off last night, they did not
carry between them a score of men. I took a ride yesterday to the west-
ward with two hundred men, but find the bounds so rugged that it's im-
possible to keep a single man from going by if he has a mind. However,
I threatened to burn their cornyards if any body was from home this
day, and I turned one house into the river for not finding its master at
home. It's hard the Government gives nobody in the north power to
keep people in order. I don't choose to send a company to Inverness
until I hear what they are determined to do at Lord Lovat's." The Earl
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 125
of London writes to Marshal Wade, Commander-in-Chief in the North,
under date of 16th November, that 150 or 160 Mackenzies, seduced by
the Earl of Cromartie, marched in the beginning of that week up the
north side of Loch-Ness, expecting to be followed by 500 or 600 Erasers,
under command of the Master of Lovat, but the Mackenzies had not on
that date passed the mountains. On the 16th of December Lord Fort-
rose writes asking for 400 expended during two months 011 his men
going to and coming from the Highlands, for which he would not trouble
him only that he had a very " melancholy appearance " of getting his
Martinmas rent, as the people would be glad of any excuse for non-pay-
ment, and the last severe winter, and their having to leave home, would
afford them a very good one. He was told, in reply, that his letter was
submitted to Lord Loudon, that both agreed that his Lordship's expenses
must have been greater than what he claimed, " but as cash is very low
with us at present, all we can possibly do is to let your Lordship have
the pay of the two companies from the date of the letter signifying that
they were ordered to remain at Brahan for the service of the Government.
The further expense, which we are both satisfied it must have cost your
Lordship, shall be made good as soon as any money, to be applied to con-
tingencies which we expect, shall come to hand, and if it should not come
so soon as we wish, the account shall be made up and solicited, in the
same manner with what we lay out of our own purses, which is no incon-
siderable sums."
This correspondence, which it was thought right to quote at such
length, will show the confidence which existed between the Government
and Lord Fortrose. Ou the 9th of December the two companies were
marched into Inverness. Next day, accompanied by a detachment from
Fort -Augustus, they proceeded to Castle Downie to bring Lord Lovat to
account. The crafty old chief agreed to come to Inverness and deliver
up his arms on the 14th of the month, but instead of keeping his pro-
mise he effected his escape.
After the battle of Prestonpans, on the recommendation of the Earl
of Stair, the Government forwarded 20 blank commissions to President
Forbes, with the view of raising as many companies, of 100 men each
among the Highlanders. Eighteen of these documents were sent to the
Earls of Sutherland and Cromartie, Lords Fortrose and Reay, the Lairds
of Grant and Macleod, and Sir Alexander Macdonald of Sleat, with in-
structions to raise companies in their respective districts. The Earl
of Cromarty, while pretending to comply with the President's instructions,
offered the command of one of the companies to a neighbouring gentle-
man, whom he well knew to be a strong Jacobite, and at the same time
made some plausible excuse for his son's refusal of one of the com-
missions.
When Lord John Drummond landed with a body of Irish and Scotch
troops, which were in the service of the French, to support Prince Charles,
he wrote Lord Fortrose announcing his arrival, and earnestly requesting
his Lordship at once to declare for the Stewart cause, as the only means
by which he could "now expect to retrieve his character." All the
means at Drummond's disposal proved futile, and the Clan Mackenzie
was kept out of the unfortunate affair of the Forty-five. The commissions
126
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
were finally entrusted to those on whom the President and his advisers
thought prudent to depend as supporters of the King's Government.*
Prince Charles fully appreciated the importance of having the Clan
Mackenzie, led by their natural chief, for or against him ; in proof of
which we quote the following from Lord Macleod's " Narrative of the
Rebellion. "t "~\Ve sot oat from Dunblain on the 12th of January, and
arrived the same evening at Glasgow. I immediately went to pay my
respects to the Prince, and found that he was already set down to supper.
Dr Cameron told Lord George Murray, who sat by the Prince, who I was,
on which the Lord Murray introduced me to the Prince, whose hand I
had the honour to kiss, after which the Prince ordered me to take my
place at the table. After supper I followed the Prince to his apartment
to give him an account of his a Hairs in the North, and of what had passed
in these parts during the time "of his expedition to England. I found
that nothing surprised the Prince so much as to hear that the Earl of
Seaforth had declared against him, for he heard without emotion the
names of the other people who had joined the Earl of London at Inver-
ness; but when I told him that Seaforth had likewise sent two hundred
men to Inverness for the service of the Government, and that he had
likewise hindered many gentlemen of his Clan from joining my father
(Earl of Cromartie) for the service of the Stewarts, he turned to the
French Minister and said to him, with some warmth, He ! nwn Dieu ! et
Seaforth est aussi contre moi /"
In this connection it may not be out of place to mention two indivi-
duals of the name of Mackenzie who had done good service to the Prince
in his wanderings through the Highlands after the battle of Culloden.
* We give the following list of the officers of eighteen of the Independent Companies,
being all that was raised, with the dates of their commissions on the completion of their
companies, and of their arrival in Inverness :
CLAN-.
CAPTAINS.
LIEUTENANTS.
ENSIGNS.
DATES.
Monros
George Monro
Adam Gordon
Hush Monro
Ken. Sutherland..
James Grant
James Mackay ....
John Mackay.
John Macea-skill. . .
John Macleod
John Macleod
I">nii!ild Ma<
William 13aillie... .
Roderick Macleod.
Simon Murcliison..
John Macrae
James Macdonald.
Donald Macdonald
Ancrus Mackay ....
1745. Oct. 23
,, 25
Nov. 3
,. ., *
15
,. 15
15
15
18
,, ,, 28
Dec. 20
i. ,, 20
,, ,, 31
1T46. Jan. 6
>> ..
,. 8
Feb. 2
Sutherlands . .
(Grants
Alexander Gun.
John Gordon
Patrick Grant
William Grant
John Mackay
William Mackay ....
Alex. Maclend
Donald Macleod
John Campbell
William Macleod....
Kenneth Mathison ..
( Icorge Monro
Mackays
Sutherlands . .
Macleods
Do
George Mackay
Peter Sutherland
J ohn Macleod
Norman Macleod of
Waters tein
Norman Macleod of
Bernera
Donald Macdonald
William Mackintosh...
Huuh Macleod
Do
Do
Inverness
Macleods of
Assynt
Maekenzies of
Kintail
Do
Alex. Mackenzie
Colin Mackenzie of
Hilton
James Macdonald
John Maedonald
Hugh Mackay
William Ross
John Mathison
Alex. Campbell
Allan Macdonald
Allan Macdonald. . . .
.1 1 ihn Mackay
Macdonalds
of Skye
Do
Mackays
i/.'es of
Lewis
Colin Mackenzie
Donald Macaulay
Ken. Mackenzie. . .
-Culloden Papers.
t Prkited in full ia Fraser's " History of the Earls of Cromartie."
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 127
He was saved from certain capture in the Lewis by the kindness of Mrs
Mackenzie of Kildin, in her house at Arynish, half-a-mile from Stornoway.
where his Royal Highness obtained a bed for the night of the 5th of May.
A tribute must also be paid to the gallant Roderick Mackenzie, whose
intrepidity and presence of mind in the last agonies of death, saved his
Prince from pursuit at the time, and who was consequently the means of his
ultimate escape to France in safety. He had hitherto been pursued with
the most parse vering assiduity, but Roderick's trick proved so successful
that further search was at the time considered unnecessary. Roderick
Mackenzie, a young man of very respectable family, joined the Prince at
Edinburgh, and served as one of his life-guards. Being about the same
age as his Royal Highness, tall, and somewhat slender like the Prince,
and with features in some degree resembling his, he might, by ordinary
observers not accustomed to see the t\ro together, have passed for the
Prince. As Roderick could not venture with safety to return to Edin-
burgh, where lived his two maiden sisters, after the battle of Culloden,
he fled to the Highlands, and lurked among the hills of Glenmoriston,
where, abcm't the middle of July, he was surprised by a party of Govern-
ment soldiers. Mackenzie endeavoured to escape, but, being overtaken,
he turned round on his pursuers, and, drawing his sword, bravely de-
fended himself. He was ultimately shot by one of the red-coats, and as
he fell, mortally wounded, he exclaimed, "You have killed your Prince!
You have killed your Prince ! " after which he immediately expired. The
soldiers, overjoyed at their supposed good -fortune, cut oft' Roderick's
head, and hurried off to Fort-Augustus with their prize. The Duke of
Cumberland, fully convinced that he had now obtained the head of his
Royal relative, packed it up carefully, ordered a post-chaise, and at once
went off to London, carrying the head along with him. After his arrival
there the deception was discovered, but meanwhile it proved of essential
benefit to Prince Charles in his ultimately successful efforts to escape.*
Soon after the battle of Culloden a fleet appeared off the coast of
Lochbroom, under the command of Captain Fergusson. It dropped
anchor in Loch-Ceannard, when a large party went ashore and proceeded
up the Strath to the residence of Mr Mackenzie of Lajgwell, closely con-
nected by marriage with the Earl of Cromartie. LajStvell having sided
with the Stewart Prince, fled out of the way of the hated Fergusson ; but
his lady was obliged to remain to attend her children, Avho were at the
time confined with smallpox. The house was ransacked. A large chest
containing the family and other valuable papers, including a wadset of
Langwell and Inchvennie from her relative, George, Earl of Cromartie,
was burnt before her eyes ; and about fifty head of fine Highland cattle
were mangled by their swords and driven to the ships of the spoilers.
Nov did this satisfy them. They continued to commit similar depreda-
tions without discriminating between friend or foe during the eight days
which they remained in the neighbourhood. t
It is very generally supposed that Lord Fortrose had strong Jacobite
feelings, though his own prudence and the influence of President Forbes
* Highland Clans. Chambers's Rebellion. Stewart's Sketches,
t New Statistical Account of Lochbiooni, by the late Dr Ross, minister of the Parish.
128 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
secured his support to the Government. This is the opinion at any rate
of the writer of a modern MS. History of the Clan, already quoted by us,
and who concludes his sketch of his Lordship thus : Though many re-
spectable individuals of the Clan Mackenzie had warmly espoused the
cause of Charles, Lord Fort-rose seems at no time to have proclaimed
openly for him, whatever hopes he might have countenanced, when in
personal communication with the expatriated sovereign, as indeed there
is" cause to infer something of the kind from a letter which, towards the
end of November 1745, was addressed by Lord John Drummond to Ken-
neth, pressing him instantly to join the Prince, then successfully pene-
trating the West of England, and qualifying the invitation by observing
that it was the only mode for his Lordship to retrieve his character. Yet
so little did Fortrose or his immediate followers affect the cause, that
when Lord Lovat blockaded Fort- Augustus, two companies of Mackeii/.ies,
which had been stationed at Brahan, were withdrawn, and posted by
Lord London, the Commander-in-chief of the Government forces, at Castle
Downie, the stronghold of Fraser, and, with the exception of these, the
Koyal party received no other support from the family of Seaforth,
though many gentlemen of the Clan served in the King's army. Yet it
appears that a still greater number, with others whose ancestors identified
themselves with the fortunes of the House of Kintail, were inclined to
espouse the more venturous steps of the last of the Stewarts. George,
the last Earl of Cromarty, being then paramount in power, and, probably
so, in influence, even to the Chief himself, having been, for certain
reasons, liable to suspicions as to their disinterested nature, declared for
Charles, and under his standaid his own levy, with all the Jacobite ad-
herents of the Clan ranged themselves, and were mainly instrumental in
neutralizing Lord London's and the Laird of Macleod's forces in the sub-
sequent operations of 1746, driving them, with the Lord President
Forbes, to take shelter in the Isle of Skye.*
Kenneth, Lord Fortrose, married on the llth of September 1741,
Lady Mary Stewart, eldest daughter of Alexander, sixth Earl of Galloway,
and by her had issue, one son and six daughters. She died in London on
the 18th of April 1751, and was buried at Kensington, where a monu-
ment was raised 'if> her memory. The daughters married respectively ;
Margaret, on the 4th June 1785, a Mr William Webb; Mary, Henry
Howard of Eflingham ; Agnes, J. Douglas; Catherine, 1st March 1773,
Thomas Griffin Tarplcy ; Frances, General Joseph Wald ; and Euphe-
mia, 2d of April 1771, William Stewart of Castle Stewart, M.P. for the
County of Wigton. His Lordship died in London, on the 1 9th of October
17G1 ; was buried in Westminster Abbey, and was succeeded by his only
son. (To be Continued.)
THE HISTORY OP THE CLAN MACKENZIE, Ave may say, in answer to
various enquiries, is in the press in a separate form. A good part of it is
already printed, and it is expected to be in the hands of subscribers in
April or May next. About twenty extra copies are being printed to avoid
disappointment to parties ordering while the work is in the press.
* Bennetsfceld MS.
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 129
A LEGEND OF ARGYLL.
ON a dark tempestuous night, about the middle of last century, an anxious
group of people gathered on the seashore of a small village on the
west coast of Argyllshire. In spite of the howling wind, and pelting
rain, they stood, straining their eyes seaward, to watch through the gloom
the struggles of a gallant ship, which, with her devoted crew seemed
doomed to destruction. The vessel was evidently disabled, and totally
unmanageable, and the villagers listened with deep emotion and ejacula-
tions of horror and distress to the deep booming of the minute gun, and
the hoarse cries of the sailors imploring the assistance of those on shore,
who were powerless to assist them. Nearer, and nearer, the ill-fated ship
was driven to the deadly rocks, until at length the end came ; with a fear-
ful crash she struck, one moment she was lifted high by the cruel waves,
the next saw her dashed to pieces like a toy in the hands of a giant, and
her crew battling for life in the raging sea. Now the brave landsmen do
their utmost to help. With encouraging shouts they rush through the
boiling surf, and throw ropes to the drowning men, but alas ! few indeed
can they save. The women are not idle ; they have blankets to throw
around the senseless forms, and restoratives to hold to the pallid lips of
the half-drowned men. Among the most active was a widow, who, with
her tAvo daughters, was busily engaged in assisting a fine stalwart young
sailor, who had just been rescued from the waves whether dead or
alive, could hardly be at first seen. The widow's cottage being near, they
conveyed him there, and by their united and sustained efforts, had at
length the pleasure of seeing him revive, and able to thank them for their
kindness.
When recovered sufficiently to give an account of his ship and her
disastrous voyage, it came out that he belonged to the next village, al-
though he had been absent at sea for several years. They knew his mo-
ther well, and great was the joy of all, when, on the morrow, they accom-
panied him to her house, and related the story of the wreck and his de-
liverance.
Donald Ban (for such was his name) finding his father was dead, and
his mother getting frail and requiring help on her small croft, decided to
give up a seafaring life and to settle at home. Naturally enough he often
paid a visit to the widow's cottage, where he had met with such kindness,
but it would be difficult to prove that his visits would have been quite so
frequent or prolonged, had it not been for the attraction of the widow's
daughters, Mary and Barbara. Mary, the eldest, was a quiet, kind-hearted,
sensible girl, with a homely face, only rendered attractive by good-nature
and robust health. Her one point of beauty lay, in her magnificent fair
hah', which, when released from its fastenings, fell in luxuriant masses
down to her feet. Her sister, five years her junior, was a great contrast,
both in appearance and disposition. Very beautiful in person, lively in
manner, she captivated all who came within her power. All the young
men for miles round were her devoted admirers, but Barbara was a co-
quette, and no one knew whom she favoured most. An acute observer
130 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
might notice that her eyes, bright anil heautiful as they were, yet hail a
cohl hard look, and that her cherry lips, at times, would grow thin and
white, and wreath into a cruel smile, anything but pleasant to see.
Donald Ban, like the rest, was dazzled by her beauty and attrac-
tive manner ; at the same time, the best part of his nature made him feel
that Mary was superior in every true womanly quality, to her more fasci-
nating sister. Still he wavered, fluttering like a moth round the light that
would destroy him at last. His mother, who was now growing very infirm,
wished him to marry ; and having known Mary from childhood, was most
anxious that Donald should choose her for his wife. Donald returning
home one evening, after a more than usually prolonged visit to the widow's
cottage, was alarmed to find his mother l} r ing back in her chair, in a
swoon. Blaming himself severely for his neglect in leaving her so long
alone, he did his utmost to restore her to consciousness. After a little
while, she somewhat revived, but was evidently very much shaken and
ill. Feeling near her end, she spoke very seriously to Donald about
his choice of a wife, and assured him that while lying apparently uncon-
scious, she had a vision, and saw, through the medium of the second-sight,
a forecast of the future of the two sisters. "I saw," she continued, "Mary
a happy wife and mother, a blessing and a comfort to her husband ; but
Barbara's future Avas dark and sinful. Her lover will be driven by her
into the commission of a terrible crime, and both will perish in a sudden
and terrible manner. The form of Mary's husband, as also that of Barbara's
lover, was hidden from me. But remember this warning. Shun Barbara
as you would a beautiful but deadly serpent. Promise me that as soon as
I am dead, and the days of your mourning are past, you will marry Mary,
and be a true and faithful husband to her." Donald, much affected by
his mother's earnest appeal, promised faithfully to carry out her last
wishes.
The old woman shortly after died, and in course of time Donald pre-
pared to fulfil his promise. He proposed to Mary, and was accepted, her
mother being well pleased to have Donald for a son-in-law. Whatever
Barbara's feelings were on the subject, she kept them to herself, merely
excusing herself, for the extraordinary proceeding of a sister in those dis-
tricts, from being present at the wedding, as she was going to pay a long
visit to a relative in a neighbouring town.
Donald and Mary were in due time married, and lived quietly and
happily for nearly three years. They had two children, a boy and a girl.
Mary's mother dying about this time, and Barbara being still unmarried,
she came to live with them. She was if possible more beautiful than ever
still in the first bloom of her womanhood ; and soon Donald found him-
self as much under her influence as ever. Manfully he struggled for a
time to subdue his fatal passion, but in a short time he was as help-
- a fly iii a spider's web. His infatuation was complete, and it made
him oblivious to the sacred claims of a husband and a lather. It is doubt-
ful whether Barbara really felt any affection for him, but she took a de-
in exercising her power of bewitching him, though withal she used
such tact that her truc-heartod sister, or the unfaithful Donald, never
suspected her.
It was a lovely summer day. Donald was working on his croft, in
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 131
sight of his cottage, the door of which stood open, exposing a scene of
homely comfort. The room Avas scrupulously clean. Mary, with a happy
contented look lighting up and beautifying her homely face, was busily
employed making oatcake, the appetising smell of Avhich seemed to tickle
the olfactory nerves of a fine collie, basking in the sun outside the door,
who, lifting his head occasionally, would give a satisfied sniff, but was too
well bred to shew any impatience. The eldest child, a sturdy boy of two
years, was 011 the floor, playing with a kitten, as frolicsome as himself
the baby girl was sleeping in her cradle. Barbara was sitting quietly,
knitting. The humming of the bees, as they flitted from flower to flower,
the twitting of the birds, and the soothing sound of the sea waves, break-
ing gently against the neighbouring rocks, completed this picture of peace-
ful happiness, from which discord and trouble seemed far removed. After
finishing her culinary operations, Mary proposed to go to the rocks to
gather dulse, of which Donald was very fond ; the boy clamoured to
go along with her, but his mother quieted him by promising to take him,
out on her return.
Anxious to obtain the best dulse, Mary scrambled on to a rock jutting
out in the sea, always covered at high water. Having filled her basket,
she sat down to rest, and the day being hot, soon fell asleep.
The duties and simple pleasure of domestic life had no attraction for
Barbara. She soon tired of being alone, and giving the sagacious dog
charge of the children, went to look for her sister. She soon discovered her,
still peacefully sleeping on the fatal rock. The tide was just turning, but
instead of awakening her sister, Barbara stood and stared, and as she looked,
an evil flash came in her eye, a cruel smile was on her lips, and from
a beautiful woman, she seemed suddenly as if transformed into a she-
demon. At length she turned, and going to Donald, prevailed upon him
to accompany her to the beach, saying she wished to show him something
remarkable. Arriving at the rock, she pointed out the still slumbering
Mar}*, and, without a word, fixed her flashing eyes on Donald. Spell-
bound, he gazed at her, until the same dreadful idea also possessed him.
The water was now within a yard of the peaceful and sleeping woman ;
in a few minutes she would be totally surrounded by the tide, and if not
awakened instantly, her life would be lost ; yet still they stood silent and
inactive. At last Barbara muttered, or rather hissed through her close-
set teeth, " We must not let this chance escape, we must make sure work
of it. Come, Donald, help me to plait her hair with the sea weeds." So
saying, she drew the infatuated man in the direction of his devoted wife.
"With eager fingers, they quickly unwound poor Mary's long tresses, and
plaited and knotted them with the weeds growing on the rock. Then
retiring to a point of safety, they waited the inevitable result. The
tide had now completely surrounded their victim, who, as it touched her,
awoke with a start. Donald's heart now failed him. Although he
wished her dead, he could not bear to see her murdered. With a
groan, he turned and fled, stopping his ears for fear of hearing the death
agonies of his wife. Barbara looked at him, with a scornful smile on her
lips, and muttering a curse on his cowardice. She did not intend to lose
sight of her victim. When Mary awoke she strove to rise and escape,
but to her horror, found herself bound to the rock. Startled and confused
132 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
by her sudden awakening, she imagined for a moment that she was dream-
ing, or under the influence of a dreadful nightmare ; but the cold waves
now breaking over her, soon convinced her of her true position. AVith
frantic hands, she tore at her hair, crying loudly for help ; then catching
sight of her sister, a gleam of hope came, but to her indescribable horror
and despair, her cries for assistance were met only with a low mocking
laugh. Then was the fearful conviction forced upon her that she was be-
ing murdered, and that at the hands of her own sister. AVith heart-rending
cries, she called. on her husband to succour her, but the only answer came
from Barbara, telling her how he also had even helped to bind her to the
rock. Surprise and horror closed poor Mary's lips for a moment ; she
then thought of her children her handsome boy, her firstborn and her
sweet babe, who was even then requiring its natural food. The thought
was distraction. Again she tried to move the stony heart of her unnatural
sister, by pitiable appeals for dear life, imploring her by every tie,
human and divine, to save her ; by the memory of their dead mother, by
their sisterhood, for the sake of the children, for the sake of her own soul,
not to commit this foul deed. But as well might she attempt to stay the
tide now washing over her, as move the heartless she-fiend who sat gloat-
ing over the sight of her victim's sufferings, like a tiger over the struggles
of his prey. Inch by inch the water rises, now it reaches her neck, the
next wave drowns her voice, there is a gasp and a gurgle. Another wave
the fair head is covered, and poor Mary is in eternal rest.
By Mary's death, an obstacle was removed from the path of the guilty
pair, but yet they were not happy. Nothing prospered with Donald
his harvest was bad, his potatoes diseased, his sheep died, his cows sick-
ened ; however hard he might work, everything went wrong he got no
sympathy nor help from his neighbours, who all shunned him since his
wife's death ; he grew gloomy and morose ; tortured with remorse, he
dragged out a miserable existence. Barbara Avas also changed she was
never fitted for home duties, and having now no object in trying to cap-
tivate Donald, she grew careless and neglectful, and the guilty pair passed
most of their time in mutual accusations and recriminations.
The first anniversary of Mary's death arrived. It was a heavy oppres-
sive day, and Donald felt more than usually depressed and miserable; his
crime weighed heavily upon his conscience, and his mother's prophetic
warning continually rang in his ears. His day's work over, he entered
his cottage for the night, but how changed it had become no com-
fort, no happiness. Instead of a true-hearted loving wife to welcome him,
there was this woman, beautiful indeed, but she seemed possessed with a
mocking devil. Totally heartless herself, she laughed him to scorn when-
ever he ventured to express regret lor the past, or hint at amendment in
the future. As night drew near, the air became still more oppressive,
the clouds, heavy with electricity, hung low down ; the distant mutter-
ings of thunder were heard, and the forked lightning flashed over the
dark and troubled sea.
Donald and Barbara retired to rest, but he at least could not sleep
he felt a presentiment of coming evil. As the storm drew nearer and
inn-eased in intensity, he literally quaked with fear. Just at midnight, a
terrific thunder clap burst over the house, and as the lurid flash lighted
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up the room, he saw Avilh unspeakable horror, the figure of his murdered
wife standing by the bedside. With a severe yet sorrowful look and voice,
she seemed to say, " Your hour is come, retribution has overtaken you at
last, and your partner in guilt. I go to protect my beloved offspring."
The iigure then slowly glided into the next room, in which slept the in-
nocent children. Again the thunder pealed long and loud again the
lightning Hashed a blinding sheet of flame appeared to envelope the cot-
tage for a moment ; the storm ceased almost suddenly, dying away in dis-
tant rumblings of thunder echoed from the surrounding rocks.
Next morning was calm and clear. The people of the neighbourhood
were astir by break of day to see what mischief the unusually severe storm
had done. Arrived at Donald's cottage, they stood struck with
astonishment which, on further investigation, was turned into a feeling of
terror. One end of the cottage had been struck by lightning, and
was a total ruin. Under the scorched rafters lay two blackened and repul-
sive bodies, which on investigation, they recognised as the "disfigured .re-
mains of Donald and his guilty paramour. The other half of the cottage
was unscathed, and entering it, they found the two lovely children, locked
in each other's arms, breathing the breath of innocence, calmly sleeping,
with the angelic smile and beautiful expression, always observed on the
face of slumbering infancy. Thus was Mary avenged.
M. A. EOSE.
WAR SPEECH OF A HIGHLAND CHIEF.
The foe is advancing : make ready, brave men !
Arise every sou of the mountain and glen !
Rush on to the combat, and let the knaves ken
We're stems of the soul-rousing Thistle !
Rush on like ths foam crested billows that roar,
When lashing with fury our wild rocky shore !
The dear ones defending ye love and adore
Heap fame on the soul-rousing Thistle !
Rush on like the light'uing and thunder of Heaven,
When mountains majestic asunder are riven !
And give them the welcome your fathers have given
A' foes of the soul-rousing Thistle !
To tyrants bend never : our banner's unfurl'd,
A streamer of glory it waves o er the world ;
Though army on army against us be hurl'd,
Stand fast for the soul-rousing Thistle !
Now clansmen, for freedom, your claymores unsheath,
Wave, wave them on high o'er tire dark purple heath,
Add laurels unrivall'd to honour's bright wreath,
Staunch sons of the soul-rousing Thistle !
Then on, my blue bonnets, to death's gory stage ;
And carve this proud motto on liberty's page
" We'll hand down, unblemished, to each tolling age,
The glorious soul-rousing Thistle ! "
EDINBURGH. ALEXANDER LOGAN.
134 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
THE GAELIC NAMES OF TREES, SHRUBS, PLANTS, &c.
BY CHARLES FERGUSSON.
[CONTINUED.]
WKKPING BIRCH. Latin, Betula Pendula ; Gaelic, Beitke Dtibkach. The
weeping birch is the most graceful and beautiful of all our native High-
land trees, and where it grows to perfection, as it does in Strathglass,
Lochness-sicle, and in many other parts of the Highlands, there is nothing
that can add more to the beauty of the landscape than its tall silvery stem,
with its graceful drooping branches which, though 'twenty or thirty feet
long, are no thicker than a common pack thread. Well might Coleridge
call the weeping birch " The Lady of the Woods."
DWARF BIRCH. Latin, Betula Nana ; Gaelic, Bcithe Bearj. The
dwarf birch, the hardiest of all tree? or shrubs, grows abundantly on some
of the higher ranges in the Highlands, though unknown south of the
Highland border, or even in our own low straths. It grows in Corry-
challin, in Glenlyon, in Strathardle, on Ben Lawers, Ben-y-gloe, and on
several of the other Perthshire Grampians, also in the wilds of Strathglass,
and on the moors near Loch Glass, in Ross-shire. It is of an erect habit,
but seldom reaches a height of over three feet. The bark is of a shining
red or dark purple colour, and the fertile catkins which grow at the
extremity of the branches are a favourite food of grouse and ptarmigan.
As the leaves and twigs of this variety yield a much brighter yellow dye
than any of the other varieties of birch, it used to be much sought after
by the Highland housewives, and through their cutting it all when found
growing near their houses, it is now unknown in many places where it was
once common. Another, and perhaps a stronger reason for its disappear-
ance is that it never grows high enough to be beyond the reach of sheep,
which are now all over the country, and as they are very fond of the
young twigs and leaves, they constantly nip off the young wood, and so
never allow it to seed, and very soon kill the parent shrub itself. In the
Arctic regions the dwarf birch is found growing on the borders of the
eternal snow, where it is the only vai'iety of tree known, and its catkins
and seeds afford the only food for the large flocks of ptarmigan and other
birds found in those high northern latitudes.
BIRDS' CHERRY. Latin, Cerasus padus ; Gaelic, Fi<><Um<j. This tree
is a native of the Highlands, where it grows on the banks of streams, and
produces large crops of its black berries. These berries are very sour, but
birds are very fond of them, Avhich, of course, gave rise to its name.
Lightfoot informs us that the berries were used by way of infusion in
brandy in the Highlands when he was there.
BLACK THORN. Latin, Pnum* .-^///n^ ; Gaelic, Syilhcacli duWi ;
Precis nan ainieafj. This is a well-known native shrub, and grows very
common all over the country. The bark was much used by our ancestors
for dyeing a bright red colour. Lightfoot mentions that the fruit will
make a very fragrant and grateful wine, a fact which the great botanist
never forgets to mention of any fruit or plant out of which it is possible
to extract anything drinkable !
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 135
Box. Latin, Buxus sempervircns ; Gaelic, Bucsa. The box is a native
England, but seems to have been introduced very early into the High-
lands, where it thrives very Avell in the low glens. The wood, which is
very hard and close-grained, was used by the old Highlanders for carving
ornamental dirk and scjian dulih handles, cuaclis, &c. Erom the great
resemblance of the box to the red whortleberry, or Liis nam Braoilcag,
the real badge of the Clan Chattan, the box was often used by that Clan
instead of the whortleberry, as it was generally easier procured, which
gave rise to the mistaken idea that the box is the badge of the Clan
Chattan.
BRIER EOSB. Latin, Rosa canina ; Gaelic, Dris; An fliearrdhris ;
Precis nam mucag. 'This prickly shrub grows all over the Highlands,
where its fruit mucagan is often eaten by children, and also sometimes
used for preserves. The strong prickles with which it is armed gave rise
to the old Gaelic proverb, " Cho crosda ris an dris." The Highlanders
used the bark of the brier, with copperas, for dyeing a beautiful black
black colour.
BROOM. Latin, Sparlium Scopariimi ; Gaelic, Bealaidli. The
" bonny, bonny broom " needs no description, as it is known to every-
body, and its bright green branches and golden blossoms add to the beauty
of most Highland landscapes. The old Highlanders used the broom for
almost endless purposes, some of Avhich I may mention here. The twigs
and branches wore used to thatch houses and stacks, to make brooms, and
to Aveave in their fences to exclude sheep and hares from their gardens, and
also to tan leather, for which purpose it is equal to oak bark. A decoc-
tion of this shrub was much recommended for the dropsy, and half an
ounce of the flowers or seeds was considered a strong emetic by the old
Highland housewives. During snow, sheep and deer are very fond of
browsing on it, but if sheep not accustomed to it are allowed too much of
it at first it makes them giddy, or as the shepherds say drunk. The
broom is the badge of the Clans Eorbes and Mackay.
CHERRY. Latin, Primus Cerasus Gaelic, Siris or Sirist. Of course
this tree is just the wild cherry or gean, brought to its present perfection
by long cultivation. It seems to have been well known to the old High-
landers, as the bards often in singing the praises of their sweethearts,
compare the colour of their cheeks to the cherry- -" Do ghruaidh mar an
t-siris."
CHESTNUT. Latin, Fugus castanea ; Gaelic, Geanm-chno. This tree
is said to be a native of England, but not of Scotland. This, however, is
doubtful, for if it is not a native, it must have been introduced into this
country very early, from the immense size of some of the chestnut trees
found growing in many paits of the Highlands. One growing in the
garden of Castle Leod, in Eoss-shire, in 1820, measured 15 feet in cir-
cumference ; and mention is made, in the oS r ew Statistical Account, of
three chestnuts measured at Castle Menzies in 1844, whose respective
girths were 16, 18|, and 21 feet. The wood is very hard and durable,
and that its value was known to our ancestors is proved by the fact that
it is found along with oak in the roofs and woodwork of some of our old-
est Highland castles and mansion houses.
ELDER. Latin, Sambucus niger ; Gaelic, Dromun ; Craobh an dro-
136 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
main. This is a native of the Highlands, and was used by the High-
landers in many ways. They used its berries for dyeing a brown colour,
and of course everybody who has heard of the " Lair.l o' Cockpen " knows
that a wine is made of the flowers
" Mistress Jean she was makin' the elder flower wine,
Says, ' What talcs the Laird here at sic an ill time?" 1
The berries also were fermented into a wine, which was usually drank
warm. The medicinal virtues of the elder were well known to our
ancestors, for indeed it was one of their principal remedies for many
diseases ; and as a proof that they were correct in this, and also that its
virtues were known in other countries, I may mention that the great
physician Boerhave regarded the elder with such reverence for its medicinal
virtues, that he al \vays took off his hat when passing an elder tree !
FIR (SCOTCH). Latin, Pinussylvestris ; Gaelic, Giutlias. The Scotch
Fir is the " most Highland " of all our trees, and there is no tree that looks
nobler than it does towering amongst our bens and glens. In our earliest
records we find mention of our great Caledonian fir forest, which extended
from Glenlyon and Rannoch, to Strathspey and Strathglass, and from
Glencoe eastward to the Braes of Mar. This great forest has mostly dis-
appeared ages ago, caused principally by being cut, or set fire to wilfully,
or accidentally, by the different clans, during their continual wars, or by
foreign invaders. A large portion of the ground which once formed part
of this great forest is now converted into peat bogs, in which are found
embedded huge trunks of fir, some of which still show traces of fire, or
lying close to their roots or stocks, which arc firmly fixed by the roots in
the underlying firm soil. The largest portions of the ancient Caledonian
forest left are in Rannoch, Perthshire ; in Braemar, Aberdeenshire ; in
Badenoch, Strathspey, Glenmore, Rothiemurchus, Glenmoriston, and
Strathglass, in Inverness-shire ; near Loch Maree, in Ross-shire ; and at
Coigeach, Strathnaver, and Dirry-Monach, in Sutherland. The wood of
this tree is very valuable, being easily wrought, resinous, and very dur-
able, a proof of which is mentioned by Smith, in his "View of the Agri-
culture of Argyle." He says " The roof of Kilchurn Castle, Argyleshire,
was made of natural fir, and when taken down, after having stood over
300 years, was found as fresh and full of sap as newly imported Memel."
Besides using it for roofs, the old Highlanders also used this wood for
floors, and for making chests, beds, tables, and endless other domestic
purposes. The resinous roots dug out of the earth not only supplied the
best of fuel, but was used for light, being split up into small splinters,
which, from the quantity of rosin contained in them, burnt with the
brightness of gas. They were burnt cither on a flat stone or an iron
brander placed near the tire, under the large open chimneys in old High-
land cottages ; and it was the nightly duty either of the old grandfather
or the young hen I boy, to sit by the light and replenish it by fresh
splinters as they burned down, whilst the other members of the family
attended to their domestic duties, or sat and listened to the songs or tra-
ditions of bye-gone days. Lightfoot mentions that Pennant and himself
observed the fishermen of Lochbroom, in Ross-shire, make ropes of the
inner bark of the fir. He also mentions another curious fact about the
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 137
fir. He says "The farina, or yellow powder, of the male flowers, is
sometimes in spring carried away by the winds, in such quantities where
the trees abound, as to alarm the ignorant with the notion of its raining
brimstone." The fir is very often mentioned by Ossian, and no doubt in
his day many of the large tracts, which are flow barren peat mosses, were
covered with luxuriant pine forests. To explain how this great change
came about I may give the following extract from an able work, " A
Description and History of Vegetable Substances used in the Arts and
Domestic Economy." In the article on the Scotch fir, it says, page 26
" One of the most singular changes to which any country can be subjected,
is that which arises from the formation of extensive masses of peat-earth.
They are common in most of the colder parts of the world, and are known
in Scotland by the name of peat mosses. These accumulations of a
peculiar vegetable matter are a sort of natural chronicle of the countries
in which they are found. In the northern parts of Britain they point out
that the soil and climate were once far superior to what the country now,
in those situations, enjoys. The era of the first commencement of these
bogs is not known ; but as in many of them, both in Ireland and Scot-
land, are found the horns and skulls of animals of which no living speci-
mens now exist in the country, and have not been since the commence-
ment of recorded history, their history must be referred to very remote
periods. Notwithstanding this, the formation of a peat bog under favour-
able circumstances does not appear to be a very lengthened process, lor
George, Earl of Cromarty, mentions (Philosophical Transactions, No. 330)
that near Loch Braon (Loch Broom), on the west of Eoss-shire, a consider-
able portion of ground had, between the years of 1651 and 1699, been
changed from a forest of barked and leafless pines to a peat moss or bog,
in which the people were cutting' turf for fuel. The process, according to
the Earl's description, which has been verified by the observations of
others, is this The pines, after having stood for some time deprived of
their bark and bleaching in the rains, which in that country are both
heavy and frequent, are gradually rotted near their roots, and fall. After
they have been soaked by the rains, they are soon covered with various
species of fungi. When these begin to decay the rain washes the adhesive
matter into which they are reduced between the tree and the ground, and
a dam is thus formed, which collects and retains the water. Whenever
this takes place, the surface of the stagnant pool, or moist earth, becomes
covered with mosses, and these mosses further retain the water. It is a
property of those species of moss which grow most readily in cold or moist
districts, to keep decomposing at the roots while they continue to grow
vigorously at the tops. Cold and humidity, as has been said, are the cir-
cumstances in which the mosses that rot and consolidate into peat are
formed ; and when the mosses begin to grow they have the power of
augmenting those causes of their production. The mossy surface, from its
spongy nature, and from the moisture with which it is covered, is one of
the very worst conductors of heat ; and thus, even in the warmest sum-
mers, the surface of moss is always comparatively cold. Besides the
spongy part of the moss, which retains its fibrous texture for many years,
there is a portion of it, especially of the small fungi and lichens with
which it is mixed, that is every year reduced to the consistency of a very
L
138 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
tough and retentive mould. That subsides, closes up the openings of the
spongy roots of the moss, and renders the whole water tight. The reten-
tion of the water is further favourable to the growth of the moss, both in
itself and by means of the additional cold which it produces in the sum-
mer." A very good story is told in Strathardle of a boy's opinion of a
group of noble firs, when he saw them for the first time. His father was
many years keeper to the Duke of Athole, at Falar Lodge, which is many
miles away from any other habitation, and surrounded by huge mountains,
and at which not a tree is to be seen, though it was once the very centre
of the great Caledonian forest. The boy had been born and brought up in
that secluded place, and had never been from home, till one day when he
was well on in his teens he was allowed to accompany his father to
Strathardle. Having never seen a tree of any description, no doubt the
stunted birch and alder trees he saw when going down Glenfernate
astonished him not a little, but when they reached Strathloch, and com-
ing round the corner of the hill, the group of fine firs behind the farm
houses there burst on the wondering youth's view, within a few hundred
yards of him. He stood still with astonishment, wondering what those
huge stems with the tuft of green on the top could be, till at last a happy
idea struck him, and turning to his father, he exclaimed " Ubh, ubh,
nach e am blaths gu iosal an seo, a ni am muth, seallaibh cho mor 'sa dh'
fhas an cal." " Ubh, ubh, does not the warmth down here make a
wonderful difference ; see how big the kale has grown." The poor boy
nad never seen anything resembling those trees except the curly kale or
German greens in his father's garden, and so came to the conclusion that
owing to the warmth of the valley the kale had grown to the size of the
fir trees.
FIR, SILVER. Latin, Finns Picea ; Gaelic, Giuthas Geal. This tree
is a native of Germany, and was introduced into England in 1603 ; and
into Scotland in 1G82, where it was first planted at Inveraray Castle.
One specimen of this tree measured 15 feet in circumference at Castle
Menzies, in 1844.
FIR, SPRUCE. Latin, Pinus Abies ; Gaelic, Giuthas Loclilanach. The
spruce is a native ot Norway, but was introduced in 1548. It thrives to
perfection in the moist boggy parts of the Highlands, where immense trees
of it are found in many parts of the country, many of them over 100 feet
high.
GEAN, or WILD CHERRY. Latin, Cerasus Sylvestrix ; Gaelic, Geanais.
This is one of our native wild fruit trees, where it thrives very well in the
low straths, many trees of it being 15 to 18 feet in circumference. The
wood is very hard and beautifully veined, and was much used for making
articles of furniture. Lightfoot says that the fruit of the gean, by fer-
mentation, makes a very agreeable wine, and by distillation, bruised
together with the stones, a strong spirit.
HAZEL. Latin, Corylus Avellana ; Gaelic, Calltuinn. This native
tree is very common in most parts of the Highlands yet, though, within
the memory of the present generation it has disappeared from many a
glen, where it once grew in thickets. This is caused to some extent by
the increase of sheep and rabbits in the Highlands, especially the latter,
who in time of snow peel the bark off as high as they can reach, killing
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 139
it, of course, very soon. From the great quantity of hazel trees and nuts
dug up from great depths in peat bogs, it is evident that the hazel was
very common all over the country before the destruction of the great
Caledonian forest. It was always a favourite wood for making walking
sticks, and was also used for making baskets and hoops for barrels. Our
ancestors had many curious old superstitions regarding the hazel, and
always considered it a very unlucky tree, though they were fond enough
of the nuts. Of the nuts they made bread sometimes, which they con-
sidered excellent for keeping away hunger on long and fatiguing journeys.
They had also many superstitions regarding the nuts, such as burning
them on Hallowe'en night to see if certain couples would get married ;
and they counted nothing so lucky as to get two nuts naturally joined
together, which they called "Cn6-ch6rnhlaich," and which they considered
a certain charm against all witchcraft.
HORSE-CHESTNUT. Latin, ^Eesculus hippocastanum ; Gaelic, 'Gheanm-
chno fhiadhaicli. This tree is a native of Asia, and was introduced into
England in 1629, but not into Scotland till 1709. Very large trees
of it are quite common in the Highlands now. The wood is worthless,
but its handsome foliage and sweet-smelling flowers render it very useful
for ornamental purposes.
JUNIPER. Latin, Juniperis communis ; Gaelic, Aiteann. Next to the
broom and the whin, the juniper is the most common of all our native
shrubs, and it has the advantage over those of producing berries. Those
berries, which have the peculiarity of taking two years to ripen, once
formed no small part of the foreign commerce of the Gael, as we read that
shiploads of juniper berries used to be annually sent from the port of In-
verness to Holland, where they were used for making the famous Geneva
or gin. That trade in the juniper berries continued long, and might have
done so still if the modern art of the chemist had not discovered a cheaper,
but, as is generally the case, an inferior substitute for the juniper berries
in the distillation of Geneva. This will be seen by the following extract
from an old work : " The true Geneva or gin is a malt spirit distilled a
second time with the addition of juniper berries. Originally the berries
were added to the malt in the grinding, so that the spirit thus obtained
was flavoured with the berries from the first, and exceeded all that could
be made by any other method. But now they leave out the berries
entirely, and give their spirits a flavour by distilling them with a proper
quantity of oil of turpentine, which, though it nearly resembles the flavour
of juniper berries, has none of their valuable virtues." The old High-
landers had very great faith in juniper berries as a medicine for almost
every disease known amongst them, and also as a cure for the bite of any
serpent or venomous beast. In cases of the pestilence, fever, or any in-
fectious disease, fires of juniper bushes were always lighted in or near
their houses, as they believed that the smoke and smell of burning juniper
purified the air, and carried off all infection. The juniper is the badge of
the Athole Highlanders, and also of the Gunns, Rosses, and Macleods.
LABURNUM. Latin, Gytisus Alpinus; Gaelic, Bealaidh Sasunach.
This tree is a native of Switzerland, and was introduced in 1596. Some
of the largest trees of it in Britain are in Athole, by the roadside be-
tween Blair- Athole and Dunkeld. The old Highlanders used this wood
HO THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
for making bagpipes, for which use it is very suitable, being very hard,
fine grained, and capable of taking a very fine polish. Many very old
bagpipes are made of this wood.
LARCH. Latin, Pinus Lanx ; Gaelic, Laireag. Though not a native
of the Highlands, the larch is now one of our commonest trees, and it
thrives as well here as any of our native trees, as both the soil and the
climate are admirably suited to it. Linnaeus says that its botanical name
" Larix " conies from the Celtic word " Lar," fat ; producing abundance of
resin. Of course the Gaelie name comes from the same. In the Statistical
Account of the Parish of Dunkeld we read: "Within the pleasure-
grounds to the north-east of the cathedral, are the two noted larches, the
first that were introduced into Britain. They were brought from the
Tyrol, by Menzies of Culdares, in 1738, and were at first treated as green-
house plants. They were planted only one day later than the larches in
the Monzie gardens, near Crieff. The two Dunkeld larches are still (1844)
in perfect vigour, and far from maturity. The height of the highest is
nearly 90 feet, with girth in proportion." Again, in the Account of the
Parish of Monzie we have " In the garden of Monzie are five larches re-
markable for their age, growth, and symmetry. They are coeval with the
celebrated larches of Dunkeld, having been brought along with them from
the same place, and are now superior to them in beauty and size. The
tallest measures 102 feet in perpendicular height; another is 22 feet in
circumference, and at a distance of 2 feet from the ground 16 feet, and
throws out branches to the extraordinary distance of 48 and 55 feet from
the trunk. The late Duke of Athole, it would appear, evinced a more
than ordinary interest in the progress of these five trees, sending his
gardener annually thither to observe their growth. When this functionary
returned and made his wonted report, that the larches of Monzie were
leaving those of Dunkeld behind in the race, his Grace would jocularly
allege that his servant had permitted General Campbell's good cheer to
impair his powers of observation." The larch is now very commonly
planted in the Highlands, and there are many extensive plantations of it
which have already attained a great size and value, especially in the dis-
trict of Athole, where, about the beginning of the present century, Duke
John planted some millions of it on the hills north of Dunkeld and
Logierait.
LIME. Latin, Tilia communes ; Gaelic, Teile. This beautiful tree is
a native of Asia, and was introduced into Scotland in 1664, where it was
first planted at Taymouth Castle, where there are now trees of it nearly
20 feet in circumference. The wood, which though very soft, is close-
grained and very white, was much used by the old Highlanders for carved
work. They also believed the sweet-smelling flowers of this tree to be
the best cure for palpitation of the heart.
MAPLE. Latin, Acer campestre ; Gaelic, Malpais. This tree is a
native of the southern Highlands of Perthshire and Argyle. It very much
resembles the plane, but does not grow to such a size. The Highlanders
made a wine of the sap of this tree as they did of the birch.
(To be Continued.)
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 141
OUR GAELIC BIBLE.
II.
THE people who use our Gaelic Bible are certainly not the least devout in
"Bible-loving Scotland." They have long borne a high character for
piety. By nature reverent, almost to the verge of superstition, they are
more than most men disposed to bow with awe to the dread sanctions of
the supernatural and the unseen. And as the result on -such a tempera-
ment of a long course of strict religious teaching, not less in the school
than under the parental roof, followed very generally all through life by
the fostering influence of fervid, rousing, evangelical preaching, they have
been famous in a nation proverbially bible-loving for the profound vene-
ration habitually accorded by them to the Divine Authority of the Book.
To it was always their last appeal. Tha e anns an Leabhair was to them
an end of all controversy. Now it is evident that among such a people the
linguistic influence of their Book of Books, which was also practically
their one book, must have been very great. Its every blot or blemish,
by long association with all they held most sacred, was not unlikely to
become, not only faultless, but an actual beauty -spot. And when we re-
member, as was shown in last paper, that their first version of that book
was but a crude transliteration of the Irish Bible, even though the pro-
fessed aim of all subsequent editors has been the removal of Irish idioms,
we feel that a factor was thus introduced nearly two hundred years ago
into the linguistic history of our people, whose force and significance it
were difficult to over estimate.* It is worth remembering also that thus
a question that had to be carefully weighed in regard to the Manx trans-
lation of the Sctiptures, did not at all practically emerge in regard to our
Scotch Gaelic Bible. The Manx translators had the question before
them, " whether they would adopt the principles of the Irish orthography,
or write the language as it was pronounced " in the Isle of Man. And
after full consideration they adopted the latter mode, on the ground that
to have followed the former mode would have made their bible " to the
multitude an unknown tongue." They did so, seemingly, with regret, for
they believed that " by due attention to the orthography and structure of
the language, the connection between roots and compounds might have
been preserved, and its original energy and purity restored." But " the
translators adopted the wise alternative. They regarded the utility of
their work rather than the elucidation of the language, and accordingly took
* Were I disposed to press this point to the utmost, it could well he put more
strongly. For. before Kirke's transliteration, the Irish Bible of Bedel was itself used
presumably to some considerable extent, in the Scottish Highlands. The Hon. Robert
Boyle, not less memorable as physicist, theologian, and founder of the " Boyle Lec-
tures," than as promoter of Christian Missions to India and of translations of the Bible
into many tongues, sent to Scotland far use in the Highlands about a hundred copies of
Bedel's Bible, which had first been printed through his influence, and almost entirely at
his expense. One of these Bibles, now exceedingly rare, is in the library of the Univer-
sity of Queen's Cellege, Kingston, Canada. It was long in possession of the ancient
family ot Colquhoun of Caastraddon. From them it passed to the late Very Rev. Prin-
cipal Macf arlane of Glasgow, at the sale of whose library I purchased it ; and it is placed
in the safe keeping of Queen's College, for the benefit of coming generations of the Gael
in the Far "West, as the best acknowledgment I could make for the hospitality extended
t me by their fathers iu the Highla&d Settlements of the New World.
142 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
the spoken sound as their rule of orthography " (Kelly's Manx Grammar,
1870, Editor's introduction, p. xiii.). But is it any loss to the language
that they did so ? From the philologist's point of view it is anything but
a loss. To the student of language nothing can he more valuable than
such plwnotypes of the living speech whether of different members of our
great Celtic family in different stages of their divergence, or of the same
branch of the family in successive stages of its history. If the philological
comparison of our abundance of such phonotypes in English has yielded
results so fruitful, even in the case of a language into which has been
thrown the leaven of foreign elements so numerous and seemingly so dis-
cordant, that the " whole lump " seems at first sight monstrous and all
but amorphous, what might we not expect if we had a similar abundance
of materials for linguistic comparison in a family of languages which has ever
kept itself so proudly aloof from foreign taint as the Celtic has done !
And the pity is that in the Scottish Highlands we might indeed have
much more of that precious material than the meagre remnant that
survives. If, for example, Macpherson had remembered that in common
honesty he was under obligation to account for his precious borrowed
manuscripts, at least as much as if they were coupons or bills of exchange,
or if editors and transcribers of old Gaelic manuscripts were ever careful
piously to copy every jot and tittle of originals so precious, because, alas !
so rare, we should have materials at disposal from which the skilled
philologist might evolve on safe ground laws and principles of the utmost
value. But it is vain to mourn a loss which no regrets can remedy. Let us
be thankful that while the good minister of Balquhidder, in the haste of his
holy zeal to give his countrymen the Word of Life, shackled their tongues
with " the principles of Irish orthography," the authors of the Manx Bible
unwittingly brought us a linguistic blessing in disguise, even while
lamenting that in duty to the religion of the Manxman they were con-
strained, as they fancied, to do sore disservice to his language.
But it is time to return- to the Gaelic Bible. Encouraged by the great
demand for their translation of the New Testament, published in 1769,
and trusting to the generosity of the public, the Society for Propagating
Christian Knowledge undertook the expense of translating and printing
the Old Testament " with all the expedition of which the nature of such
an undertaking can admit." It was arranged that the work should appear
in four parts, the first of which was published in 1783. This first portion,
containing the five books of Moses, is usually regarded as the work of the
second Stuart (Dr John, of Luss). It is, indeed, so described more than
once in the Society's minutes, which, through the kindness of Mr John
Wardrobe Tawse, W.S., the writer has had the privilege of consulting.
"But there are in the same minutes undoubted indications of the fact that
Dr Stuart was not the translator of this first part in the sense in which he
was of the third. For example, in a minute dated in November 1 802, a
payment to Dr Stuart of one hundred and fifty guineas is said to have been
made " for his and John and James Macnaughton's trouble in translating,
copying, and supervising the printing of the second and third volumes of
the Gaelic Old Testament, and the second edition of the Gaelic New
Testament." And, still more to perplex the matter, in a brief historical
statement of the work which the Society, beginning in 1769, completed
in 1826, it is stated that by Dr Stuart "the third part had been translated
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. U3
and the two preceding carefully revised" The truth seems to be that from
the first, both by rare fitness for the work and as the son of the first trans-
lator of the New Testament, the younger Stuart took a leading part among
others, his coadjutors, in the translation of the Old Testament ; but as
time and the work proceeded, his connection with it became gradually so
prominent as at last to be paramount. The next part to appear, the
second in time, was the fourth in order. It was beyond question the
independent work of one man a man of rare ability, and a perfect master
of pure, idiomatic, powerful Gaelic. This was Dr John Smith of Camp-
beltown. "We do not know any Gaelic work, or any piece, short or long,
of Gaelic prose composition, which can at all be compared with it. It is
the only Gaelic translation of any portion of the Scriptures which does
not bear on the face of it conclusive evidence that the Irish Bible was
either very much in the translator's heart or very near his elbow. But
Dr Smith was not to be unduly trammelled by the English Bible any more
than the Irish. Going with competent knowledge to the original Scrip-
tures, and availing himself conscientiously according to his light of all the
results of the Biblical science of the day, his one aim was to enable his
countrymen to see in his translation as he saw in the original, what the
spirit said unto the churches. It is no wonder, then, that in some points
his rendering differed materially from the English. Further on this will
fall to be again considered, when we come to explain how another trans-
lation came to be substituted for Dr Smith's, and we shall give some
extracts which the reader can for himself compare with the version to
which it had to give place. Dr Smith's translation began with Isaiah,
and includes the rest of the prophets. It was published in 1785.
Next came the second part, described in previous minutes as " now
carrying on by Mr Stuart," and reported as printed in 1787. It extends
from Joshua to I. Chronicles. In announcing its publication the directors
of the Society state that " the third part will require considerable time to
finish." They also add, " In a work of this kind it is vain to expect uni-
versal approbation. Some have found fault with the orthography used by
the translators, but the directors have the pleasure to be informed by a
number of gentlemen, who are believed to be amongst the best judges of
the Gaelic language, that the manner in which the translation is executed
meets with their fullest approbation." Seen in the light of subsequent
events there Avould seem to be something prophetic in the directors'
warning that the third part would require " a considerable time " to finish
it. In 1789 they "are sorry to find that from the avocations of the
gentleman who conducts it, as well as from the difficult nature of the work
itself, it is not yet in complete readiness for the press." In the autumn
of 1790 the Secretary, being instructed to write Mr Stuart, was informed
that the work was expected to be "ready for the press in course of
the ensuing winter." April 1791, "Gaelic Bible in the press." Decem-
ber, same year, Mr Stuart is requested to " come to Edinburgh to carry
on the work and finish it if possible in course of the winter." January
1792, Mr Stewart " regrets that he cannot come directly, but is advancing
with the translation, and will come to Edinburgh as speedily as circum-
stances will allow." February, same year, Mr Stuart is again urged to
come to Edinburgh, and his services are bespoken, in addition to the work
already in hand, for a revised edition of his father's Gaelic New Testa-
144 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
ment, which was described in our last paper. On 5th April, same year,
the Secretary, doubtless with a sigh of relief, informs the directors that
" Mr Stuart has come." But still that gentleman's "part third" was far
from the birth. Never did fond deluded parent wait and pray for the
event which was to crown his bliss, as the directors of the Society all
these years waited on Mr Stuart of Luss for the long-looked-for " part
third." Now with wistful desire rising at times to joyful hope, now with
doubt and sore misgiving, anon with fretful impatience and rising anger,
they waited on. At one time they pleaded with him, at another, in a
very dignified way of course, they scolded him, and at another they
stirred up his pure mind by way of remembrance. They angled for him
with the silver hook, and, careful as they have ever been of the purse-
strings, they even tried the golden. At last, on 1st June 1797, their
wrath could be pent up no longer. It burst forth in the thunder of the
following minute : "A report having gone abroad, owing to the long delay
which has taken place in publishing the Old Testament Scriptures in
Gaelic, that the Society did not wish to publish the whole Scriptures into
that language ; and the committee considering that the delay of publish-
ing the translation is of material disservice to the interest of religion, they,
for that reason, have caused Dr Stuart of Luss to be written to, signifying
that they can admit of no further procrastination, and requesting him
either to proceed instantly with the printing of his translation, or to
favour them with his manuscript for being sent to the press under the
care of a person qualified to take the superintendence of it. And what
remains untranslated to be committed to the care of some other persons
in the Highlands who will readily undertake the office."
This seems to have had the desired effect. For on 2d January 1800
the directors report to a general meeting of the Society that " Dr Stuart
of Luss's translation of the books of Job and the Psalms into Gaelic, is
now printed," and on 5th June 1801 they report that "the third and last
volume of the Gaelic Bible, translated by Dr John Stuart, is some time
ago printed." The date on the title-page is 1801.
The whole Bible being now happily translated into Gaelic, the Society
set themselves eagerly to consider how it could best be brought within
the reach of the Highland people. Published in four different portions,
which appeared at various and distant intervals, from 1783 to 1801, it
was found that only five hundred complete copies of the Old Testament, and
these in an expensive and inconvenient form, were available for distribu-
tion. In order therefore to fulfil their mission, and to enable them to
keep " the engagement of the Society with those parishes in the High-
lands which contributed towards the expense of the translation," it was
resolved to arrange for publishing a cheap edition of the Old Testament
corresponding to the type and size of the New Testament published in
1796. This edition will be noticed in a subsequent paper.
The expense of producing the Old Testament in Gaelic is stated by
Reid at 2,300, to which fall to be added, according to the same autho-
rity, 700 for the Gaelic Testament of 1767, and 882 for that of 1796.
This makes in all the goodly sum of 3,882 spent by the Society from
1767 to 1801 in giving the Word of Life to our people. At this distance
of time, and without an exhaustive search of the voluminous minutes and
the accounts of the Society, it would be impossible with confidence to
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 145
check the accuracy of these figures. But our search, so far as it has gone,
satisfies us that Reid had free access to the books of the Society when
preparing his BIBLIOTHECA SCOTO-CELTICA, and that he made his extracts
with care and great fullness. We could, indeed, trace his " trail " every-
where in turning over the ponderous records of this the oldest religious
association in Scotland. And it is certain that Reid did not overstate
the expenditure of the Society in this noble work when he put it down
at 3882. Where did the Society get all this money a very large sum
at that early period? And be it remembered that at the same time they
had many other expensive agencies in operation. They had already their
schools in all parts of the Highlands and islands, and they conducted ex-
pensive missionary operations, chiefly among the Indians of America, but
also among the Tartars of Western Asia. Part of the money, estimated
by Reid at 1400, came from church collections ordered by the General
Assembly in 1782, 1783, and 1784. Large sums came from London,
where a branch of the Society, patronised not only by such Scottish
noblemen as the Duke of Athole and the Earl of Kinnoul, but by Royalty
itself, and warmly encouraged by the bishops and high dignitaries of the
Church of England, did excellent service to the cause. But can there any
good thing come out of Burton-on-Trent ? Famous as are to-day all over
the Highlands the names of Allsop and Bass, not less famous as mighty
hunters than for the beverage which bears their names, who amongst us
would ever dream of associating in any way the Gaelic Bible with that
curious little town in Staffordshire, whose name they have made,
the wide world's synonym for bitter beer? And yet the two are
in fact very closely connected. For Mr Isaac Hawkins, a solicitor
of Burton, was one of the earliest and most liberal benefactors of
the Society. In the time of the Society's greatest need, after careful
inquiry into its work, he gave a donation of 10,000. He gave that mag-
nificent donation in his life-time, and with such admirable precautions for
the preservation of secrecy that it was not till four years after his death,
in 1800, at the great age of 91, that even the directors learned the name
of their benefactor.
With another extract from the Society's minutes we close this paper.
On 4th March 1802 they unanimously resolved "that a complete copy of
the Gaelic Bible be given to each company of the forty-second or Royal
Highland Regiment, with a suitable inscription on each copy to mark the
Society's esteem of the good behaviour of that Regiment on all occasions
and of the services they have done to the country." A copy of the
Gaelic New Testament and Psalms, similarly inscribed, was also ordered
to be given " to such of the non-commissioned officers and privates in the
Regiment who understood Gaelic as the Secretary may think proper."
Truth demands that we should add the fact mournfully set forth a few
pages onwards, that the directors " having learned that few comparatively
of the men of the Forty-second can read or even understand Gaelic, there-
fore ordered the Secretary to give each of them a copy of the English
Bible."
The edition of 1807, and especially a comparison of Dr Smith's trans-
lation of the Prophets with that which then superseded it, must be re-
served for another paper.
DONALD MASSON, M.A., M,D.
146 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
REMNANTS OF GAELIC POETRY.
III.
MACPHERSON of Strathmashie, like most of the bards, was an admirer of
the fair sex. In the following poem he gives a description of the object
of his admiration. He imagines that the condition of the man who could
call her his own would be truly enviable. If he were to be that happy
individual he would be careful to behave in every way in such a manner
as would be worthy of her. After enumerating her various good qualities,
he concludes by confessing that any description he can give of one so
much to be admired, and so excellent, is altogether inadequate.
BOIRIONNACH OG.
Tha boirionnach 6g, 's thug mi toigh dhi thar chach
Ei f haicinn an ait air chor-eigin,
Na 'm bu loams' o 'n st61-phosd' i dheanainn 16n di gu brath
Fhad 's a mhaireadh mo shlaint' a' s m' f hallaineachd,
Ged bhithinn a stbras air seana ch6ta tana,
Gun tuilleadh gu m' ordugh fhad 's bu bheo mi bhiodh arad aic,
Shiubhlainn gu deonach an Eoinn-Eorp agus barr
Mu 'm faigheadh i fath air aithreachas.
A reir mar a shonruichinn dh' orduichinn trath,
An deigh mo bhais gu 'm biodh gearradh aic,
Na 'n tarladh e somhail bhiodh a coirichean-s' ann,
Ged chuireadh e 'chlann gu gearan orm,
Dheauainn tigh 'in biodh i stigh reir mo staid innealta,
Learn bu toigh i bhi 's a' chladh mar bhiodh gach leth-bhreac dhi,
B' fhearr learn na ainnis i bhi barracht' thar chach
Ged chosdainn cluas mail li ceannaichean.
Cha bhiodh o gu dilinn ri inns' aig mac mna
Gu 'm faigheadh i dranndan-teallaich uam,
Cha chuirinn beul siod' orm gun an fhirinn 'n a shail,
A' togar an drasda bhi mealladh oirr',
Dh' innsiim lein m' inntinn di, bhithinn fior thairis rith',
Chleachdainn ni, chaisginn stri, ghlacainn i ceanalta,
Ghabhainn an fhiodhull, 's mar bhitheadh e ann,
Bheirinn am port-danns' bu toigh leath' dhi,
'S cha bhiodh e gu dilinn ri inns' aig mac mna
Gu 'n cluinntoadh droch canain eadarainn,
Bheireadh feabhas a naduir, a cairdeas, 's a blathais
'n duine 's neo-ghrasail am Breatann sin,
'N uair bhiodh es' ann am brais 's a chiall-ceart beag aige,
Bhiodh a tlachd 'n a thoirt as, 's bu ro phailt beadradh dha,
Labhradh i, " 'N" sgreatachd cha fhreagair mi 'n tras
Mu 'n toir sin do chach droch theisteas oirnn."
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 147
'N uair dh' f hasadh e soitheamh 's a shumhlaicheadh 'f hearg
Chuireadh ise le 'seanachas fallus air,
'G a rusgadh an stoldach 's an ordugh neo-shearbh,
Mu '11 tugadh mi-shealbh dha thighinn thairis air,
Mur dean sud, aic- tha fios, duine glic ro mhaith dheth,
Bu ro mhios casadh ris 'n uair bhiodh friodh conuis air,
na b' e 'n t-ordugh ged bu choinnt' e na 'n tarbh
Gu 'n biodh i le 'crannchur toilichte.
Tha i anabarrach cruadalach 's truas aic an daimh,
Fior ghleusd' anns gach am, geur-bharalach,
Ged shiubhailt' shios agus shuas, deas 'us tuath 's na 'm blieil ann,
Cha 'n f haight' iad ach gann a thug barrachd oirr',
B' e mo mhiann gu 'm b' e 'n rian gu 'm biodh biadh 'n gairios di,
'S i bhi triallmhor g' a dheanamh, 's ro f hial uime i,
Ged shiubhail thu 'n cruinne cha choinnich thu te
'S lugha ardain no speis do thaghanachd.
Gruaidh dhearg a 's glan rughadh mar tibhal air crann,
Cul buidhe, corp seang, gnuis shoilleir aic,
Troidh chvuinn am broig chumhainn a ni siubhal gun spairn,
B' i an t-iongantas anns gach cruinneachadh,
Mar an diugh air a chur sneachdadh tiugh broilleachail,
'S geal mo lur, 's caoin a guth, 's grinn a cruth, 's loinneil i,
Fo f habhradaibh goirid suilean meara neo-mhall,
'S da chich chorraish aird mar lili oirr'.
Gach mir dhi r' a f haicinn bu mhaiseach a dh' f hag
An Ti a rinn sgathan cuimir dhith,
mhullach a baistidh gus an seachnar an t-sail
A' toirt barrachd air each na h-uile ball,
Cia mar dh' inntrig mi fein air an ni dhuilich so,
Innseadh tirinn na riomhainn 's nach ti cumant i ?
'S e bheir gach aon duin' an am sgur dhomh droch thaing,
nach b' urrainn mi ann mar bhuineadh dhi,
A stanza which has been forgotten concludes with the words :
'S truagh nach bard ro mhaith a tha barraicht" an cainnt
Bhiodh a' gabhail os laimh a bhi tarruing rith'.
SEANACHAIDH.
BOOKS EECEIVED. " Eose and Thistle," a handsome illustrated vol-
ume of Poems, by William Allan, who has become so deservedly such a
favourite with our readers ; also, " Genealogical Tables of the Clan Mac-
kenzie," by Major Mackenzie of Findon, a most painstaking and valuable
work. We shall again return to these. Another very readable and neatly
got up book received is " A Shining Waif and other Stories," by Wm.
Canton.
148 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
THE CALEDOOTAK BAKK DISASTER
THE fall of the Caledonian Banking Company is, not excepting the High-
land Clearances, the greatest calamity that ever befel the Korth of Scot-
land. Here was, to all appearance, a thriving, powerful, and well-managed
institution, with its head office and directorate in the Highland Capital,
pre-eminently a Highland institution in every respect but one ; but that one
exception has landed it, and with it the north of Scotland, in ruin. Men
who, advanced in years, thought they had enough in their latter days to
live comfortably on, and afterwards make comfortable provision for their
families, are now penniless. Widows and orphans, who had their all
invested in the bank, are now in absolute poverty and despair. Trade is
ruined, agriculture paralized, and enterprise crushed. And how was this
brought about ? By a piece of the most careless, reckless, and infatuated
(we had almost said culpable) mismanagement that any one could
conceive possible. It is well known that there were three other ways of
holding the City of Glasgow Bank shares, either of which would have
been equally secure for the Caledonian Bank, and enable it to keep clear
of any liability as a contributory. But this blunder was not an isolated
case of reckless speculation by the management. It appears that almost
since the very beginning they have been constantly trafficking, or
rather speculating in the stocks of other banks, and so increasing the
liability of the shareholders more than twenty-fold by holding the shares
of institutions, like their own, with a liability absolutely unlimited. It is
stated on reliable authority that when the City of Glasgow Bank closed its
doors, the Caledonian Banking Company held shares in other banks, which
made the shareholders of the Company personally liable for about fifty
millions of money each. They were shareholders in the Clydesdale
Bank, in the Bank of Scotland, in the Union Bank of Scotland, as well
as in that stupendous swindle which has desolated the land, the City of
Glasgow Bank, and five others ; thus making the shareholders of the Cale-
donian Banking Company liable for the total liabilities of these nine banks,
amounting in all to fifty or sixty millions, in addition to their own. This may
be good management from a banker's point of view ; but certainly, although
it has been so described, probably in ignorance of the above facts, by the
whole press of the country almost without exception, we have no hesitation
in expressing a different opinion, and holding it to be mismanagement of
the very worst description. To call it anything else can serve no good
purpose, and would not be in accordance with the facts.
In the face of this it was surely bordering on the criminal to send out
"authorised" statements in the newspapers that the four unfortunate
shares in the City of Glasgow Bank were held on behoof of, or in trust
for, a customer or client of the bank, who, it was said, was quite able to
meet any calls which might be made on the Compan^ in connection with
them. This cannot, in candour, be described as a mere suppression of
the facts, but must, by all honest men, be characterised as a deliberate
attempt and, to a large extent, successful attempt to mislead the
public ; and we know several cases in which shares were bought on the
faith of this " authorised " untruth. "We, and many others in Inverness,
THE CELTIC MAGAZIKE. 149
knew perfectly well who the owner of the shares was, and that he \vas
not good for any such thing, but when any one dared to say so, he was
at once pounced upon and charged with saying what was not true, and
acting unpatriotically to the bank.
In spite of, and knowing all this, the officials of the bank coolly come
forward publicly to screen their own misconduct and recklessness, and
charge depositors and shareholders with having been the cause of the
present lamentable state of the bank. We quote the following from a
circular issued by the directors and signed on their behalf by the
manager : " It (liquidation) has been caused by the uneasy feeling
which the indefiniteness of the claims of the City of Glasgow Bank upon
this Bank created among the depositors, and principally and immediately
to the panic among the shareholders having led to action on the part of
the liquidators of the City of Glasgow Bank. Had all the shareholders
stood loyally to this bank, the business might have been continued until
the liquidation of the City of Glasgow Bank had so far proceeded as that
the claim against this bank might have been estimated and compromised.
The timid shareholders who, impelled by panic, have endeavoured to save
themselves at the expense of others, are thus, in a great measure respon-
sible for the result." Could anything be more out of place ? more incon-
sistent with the known facts? And there is a cool audacity about the charge
and the manner in which it is made which is quite unique. The bank was in
everybody's mouth about the shuffling and pensioning of prominent officials,
which led outsiders to fear that it was fast becoming a family affair.
The mismanagement already referred to, and the enormous liabilities incurred,
were becoming generally known. It was also becoming extensively cir-
culated that members of the directorate had heavy overdrafts with no
immediate available securities to cover them. It became known that the
statements issued or " authorised " by the management about the City
Bank shares were not true. It also became known that the personal
friends and immediate relatives of some of the directors were disposing of
their shares in the Caledonian Bank and lifting their deposits, and in the
face of all this the other shareholders and depositors, who naturally be-
came alarmed, were publicly charged with having brought about the
failure of the bank. In such circumstances a shareholder, who found
any one foolish enough to relieve him, ought to have considered it
his first duty to protect his own interests and that of his immediate
connexions, by getting rid of such huge responsibilities at once, and at
any immediate sacrifice. And the same holds equally true of the de-
positors. Many of them would in a short time require the money for
their business or other purposes ; and were they not acting and very
properly so according to the first law of nature that of self-preserva-
tion and the dictates of common prudence in withdrawing their money,
and placing it where it would be available when circumstances re-
quired its use in their business transactions, or to meet other looming
claims? To do otherwise, in the knowledge of the facts, would have been
folly of the worst kind a culpable disregard of the ordinary precautions
of life ; and a disregard which a banker, in different circumstances, and
when his own institution was not involved, would consider unpardon-
able, and of such a character as to justify him in refusing advances to any
customer guilty of such conduct.
150 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
It is affirmed that the Caledonian Bank has proved of immense
service to the Highlands by its liberal encouragement of trade, agriculture,
and other commercial enterprises. This is admitted on all hands, and
there is naturally a strong and unanimous desire that the company should
be resuscitated, the note issue saved, and the business of the bank
resumed as early as possible. We strongly sympathise with this
feeling ; but the difficulty or practicability of carrying it out cannot be
overlooked, arid if success is possible at all, it can only be attained by
looking all the difficulties in the face, and getting them out of the way if
possible. The first and greatest difficulty of all is that raised by the
directors themselves when they signed away the business of the bank and
the rights and interests of the shareholders by that suicidal agreement
with the liquidators of the City of Glasgow Bank and the managers of
the other Scotch Banks ; and it appears to us that if that agreement is
confirmed by the shareholders, resuscitation becomes at once an absolute
impossibility. And why 1 Once the company goes into liquidation the
note issue is lost. This itself the loss of 53,000 of a circula-
tion against which no coin requires to be kept, is almost insurmountable
for what will then be only the wreck of a small institution competing
with the existing powerful Scotch Banks still entitled to trade on
a large inflated note circulation, for which they hold no security
or any description of assets. But apart from this by Sir Robert
Peel's Act of 1844 when a quarter of the capital is lost, the note
issue is gone, while here we have, by the action of the directors, if the
agreement is confirmed, already practically paid over the whole paid-up
capital. The next difficulty is almost as great, if not quite as great an
obstacle as the first; the difficulty indeed, the absolute certainty of
getting no prudent person after the present disclosures to take shares in
any unlimited company. And if the Bank be started or resuscitated on
the limited principle, no one will be found to entrust the new company
with deposits, while other banks offer him an unlimited security.
The only chance of starting a new Highland Bank, under prudent
management, is to have it founded on a gold issue alone, with an
arrangement, like some of the English Banks, to issue Bank of
England notes with the name of the local bank upon them. This arrange-
ment would induce the Northern public to receive the notes of the
Bank of England with greater favour than they now do. No doubt
the loss of the present note issue of 53,000 would be strongly
felt ; but, after all, it would not be so serious as to prove insurmount-
able. The loss in round numbers would only be, calculating it at
5 per cent, on the whole note issue, about 2500 per annum, or
under 10 per cent, of the total profits made by the Bank last year,
which was over 26,000. That is, it would reduce the dividend from
14 to 12 10s per cent, or thereabout, leaving a very handsome profit
to the shareholders. Further, a note issue, without a corresponding
amount of coin, is founded on a rotten and fast-exploding principle, and
comparatively weakens the position of the Bank having it, as
against one without ; for there is nothing but the share Capital of the
Company to meet the notes when they are presented for payment. On
the other hand, as soon as it became known and understood that the new
Bank had no such inflated unsecured liabilities in this respect as the other
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 151
Banks, confidence in the institution would be at once increased ; Deposits
would naturally come in to a much greater amount, and thus enable the
management to earn a sufficient profit on these to make up, and probably
far exceed, any deficiency arising from the loss of the note issue.
For the reasons already given, it would be unwise to establish the Bank
on the limited liability principle, while the other Banks continued to be un-
limited ; but in whatever way the question of the liability of Joint Stock
Banks and other Companies may finally settle itself, the right to issue
notes, without a corresponding amount of coin, now held by the Scotch
Banks, cannot long be continued on its present footing. Let us then start
our new Highland Bank on such a sound and solid basis as will at once
secure to it the confidence of our Northern proprietors, of the general pub-
lic, and, at the same time, the approval of all the enlightened financiers of
our time. Thus, we shall have a Highland Bank which shall become an
example to the whole country. In addition to the special difficulties pe-
culiar to itself such as having to begin almost at the bottom of the lad-
der, and the fact that many of those who would most willingly support a
local institution are already practically ruined the new Bank will have
to contend against the general disinclination of capitalists to invest
in future in any Joint Stock Company with unlimited liability.
This feeling, however, will weaken present institutions to a material
degree, and comparatively reduce the difficulties of a new Bank
established on a solid commercial basis, with a gold issue, and without
the inflated liability of an unsecured note circulation. No one possessed
of ordinary prudence will continue to invest his money in Scotch Bank
shares as these institutions are at present constituted. As soon as people
will be found sufficiently imprudent to buy, present holders will sell out
at anything short of ruination prices ; but at present they are bound to
hold on, for the simple reason that they will get no one almost at any
price to buy. The value of Bank shares will inevitably fall, and with it
the position and stability of the existing Banks in public estimation, as
safe investments.
That these Banks have behaved in the most ungenerous manner to the
Caledonian Bank is the opinion of every unbiassed person capable of form-
ing one from the materials hitherto published. And it is hardly to be
expected that they will lend any material aid to a Highland Bank esta-
blished on a different and more solid foundation than their own, but this
may in the end prove rather an advantage. Had the Caledonian Banking
Company kept clear of the southern Banks and other speculative invest-
ments, and depended more on its own resources, carefully investing its
money in small amounts nearer home, it would have been to-day in a
flourishing position, quite independent of those who seem to have taken
a delight in swallowing it up as the whirlpool does the noble ship which
a careless or incompetent captain and crew allow to drift out of her proper
and safe course and appropriating, with unabashed voracity, its entire
business.
Where was the legal adviser of the Bank when it was allowed to get
involved in this ruinous manner ? It is commonly reported that he was
never even consulted about the transfer of Mr Connacher's shares ; and
this we can easily believe when, as we now find, it was the common prac-
tice of the Directors to deal in other Bank Stock. It would be well to
152 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
have this matter cleared up, as, in the absence of an explanation, the
rumours abroad and the apparent contradictions in the public statements
of the Law Adviser, the Manager, and one of the most prominent of the
Directors, who has already feathered his own nest, is not calculated to tell
in favour of the legal adviser of the Bank.
The proposed appointment of the Manager, assistant Manager, and one
of the Directors as Liquidators of the Bank, has been freely commented
on, and by some construed as an attempt on their part, and on the part
of the other Banks, to avoid any unpleasant disclosures, especially as the
successful efforts of the shareholders to procure an independent statement
of the Bank's affairs from a qualified accountant has produced such oppo-
sition from, and apparent consternation in, official quarters.
The indecent haste with which some of the officials of the
bank ran away, like rats from a sinking ship, to take up their post in the
ranks of the destroyer, needs no comment here. Their conduct will
assuredly consign them to their proper position amongst us, and, we have
no doubt, for ever settle their claims on their countrymen and fellow
townsmen.
Like all other great calamities, this has one redeeming feature.
In small communities like ours, men who acquire position and power
very often by no merits of their own assume an importance and an air
of superiority which by degrees become oppressive and injurious to the best
interests of the community. These men become the gods of society. A
serious look or a compressed wrinkle of the brow soon comes to be ac-
cepted as the sign of a great intellect concocting or maturing
schemes which will some day surprise their fellows by great and
brilliant results. A knowing nod of the head or a shrug of the shoulder
indicates the profound superiority of the god above ordinary men. A
successful stroke of business or a fortunate speculation with other people's
money is at once voted as the result of a splendid genius. Any one who
does not bow and scrape to these great ones of our small community, and
who exhibits any ability or independence, at once becomes a special target
for their shafts, and must be immediately put down and crushed,
else he may by-and-bye show that the superiority of those holier-
than-thou nabobs is a mere assumption after all, and nothing
more. And this would be ruinous would never do. One of the ad-
vantages and they are few in all conscience of the failure of the Cale-
donian Bank will be to bring many of these local potentates to their natural
level among their kind, and let the world see that they are only ordinary
men like the rest of us. Brains, ability, and independence of mind will
then have a fair chance ; and he that best deserves it will generally
secure the greatest success in the race of life. This huge local oppres-
siveness will make way for a healthier atmosphere, and that itself will be
no small boon.
Since the above was in type, the plucky conduct of the shareholders
has prevailed so far as to induce the City of Glasgow Bank Liquidators to
reconsider their determination to force the Caledonian Banking Company
into liquidation, and at the meeting of shareholders held in Inverness on
the 1 7th of January the Directors of our local institution consented, with-
out the threatened opposition, and with the best grace possible in the
altered circumstances, to an adjournment for one month. A. M,
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
THE GAELIC SOCIETY OF INVERNESS.
o
THE annual dinner of tbis Society came off on the evening of the 14fch January, and,
thanks mainly to the excellent Chairman, Sir Kenneth S. Mackenzie, Bart., of Gairloch,
and the complete arrangements made by the Secretary, it was, censidering the present
depression amongst us, an unexpected success. The Chairman made a thoughtful,
sensible, and thoroughly practical speech on the West Coast crofter, and on the work of
the Gaelic Society during the last four years. We regret that for want of sp.xce we can
only give his introductory remarks, which were as follows : Four years ago, when
I had the honour of occupying this chair, I availed myself of the opportunity to
recount what this Society had done to fulfil the object of its institution, and to-night, in
proposing the toast of the evening, allow me first of all to refer shoitly to something of
what has taken place in the four years that have since elapsed, for which the Society
may take a share of credit. The Celtic Chair has become an accomplished fact (cheers)
thanks to the energy of our friend, Professor Blackie, but thanks also to the feeling on
which the Professor was able to work. To our Society also, backed by the efforts of the
Member for this town, it is due principally, if not entirely, that the Scotch Education
Department has recognised the Gaelic language as a fit medium of instruction. Then a
new magazine devoted to Highland literature and Highland interests has been established
by your former excellent Secretary, and though it is in no way under our control, it very
efficiently promotes some of the objects we have set before us, and it is not, I think, too
much to say that the idea of providing such a periodical would never have taken shape
but for our Society's existence. Again, only the other day, our Society took a prominent
part in promoting a federal union of Celtic Societies. Many papers have been published
in the Society's Transactions of permanent interest and value. I may fairly congratulate
you, the Gaelic Society of Inverness, on having maintained an active and useful life.
(Applause.) The Celtic Magazine, to which I hare alluded, is now in its fourth year,
and is, I believe, an assured success. It concluded its second volume with an essay on the
" Poetry and Prose of a Highland Croft," which attracted so much observation that our
leading Scottish journal thought it worth sending a special commissioner to the West
Highlands to report on the West Coast crofter. The Commissioner's letters were of
course widely read. The Scotsman itself could see in the croft system only an unmiti-
gated evil ; others (like the Highlander in this town) could see in it nothing but good ;
while athirdpaity, admitting the misery spoken of by the Celtic Magazine and the Scotsman^
Commissioner, thought that by legislation the crofter's position might be brought back
to that of an ideal past. Differing as I do from the views of all those, I should like to
give you my own opinion upon it. (Applause.) I am only going to speak of the crofter
population, as we now find it in the West, living by manual labour, and whose condition
to be rightly judged of, must be compared with that of unskilled labourers elsewhere in
Britain. Now there may be very little poetry in rising at five and being at work to six,
in labouring ten hours a-day in summer, and from daylight to dark in winter, but the
ordinary agricultural labourer finds no hardship in it, neither should the crofter. The
hardship of his lot lies not in any toil or slavery to be endured at home, but in the fact
that his croft under present conditions does not produce enough to maintain himself and
his family, and that day's wages are not to be earned in the neighbourhood. So he has
to leave his home to eke out a livelihood, and being naturally tempted to return when-
ever he has gathered what he hopes will pull him through the year, he seldom has to
spare ; while, if work is scarce, or the fishing bad, or the harvest a failure, there may be
absolute want. There is then no question that the West Coast crofter seldom finds
himself able to indulge in luxury. But despite the hardships, not one crofter in ten de-
sires to remove with his family to some other part of the country for regular employ-
ment. He has miseries undoubtedly. Who has not ? But, however invisible they may
be to others, he has advantages which make him prefer his present fate to any that lies
open to him elsewhere. If I may so put it, the bad prose of his life is tempered by a
poetry which to him makes life more enjoyable than where it is all prose, even of a
better kind. It is a fact, that for no increase of material plenty will he give up his pre-
sent surroundings, and surely he knows better than his critics what tends most to his
own happiness. But I not only maintain that his actual condition now is better than
that of his predecessors of the same class, and that his circumstances have improved, and
are improving. At what period were the crofters better off in the Highlands than now ?
Before the Union the Highlands were a scene of anarchy. The records, such as they
are, tell chiefly of feuds, harrying, revenges, battles, murders, and sudden deaths. The
prose in those days had no doubt a good deal of poetry, but even the West Highland
crofter el to day would not think the compensation sufficient.
M
154 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
THE GLENALMOND Hit iJlLANDEKS IX THE KILT.
AWAY sonic live miles from one of those many spots where Ossian is said
to lie buried, in the pass of Almond, and eleven miles across the moun-
tains from Dail-chillin, at Loch Fraoch, where, according to some, is
Fingal's last resting place, is a stately pile of buildings, reminding the
traveller of the more ancient colleges by the Isis and the Cam, and situ-
ated in the midst of a most romantic and mountainous country. This
pile is well and widely known as Trinity College, Glenalmond, opened as
a public school in 1847. In 1875 a great fire took place which destroyed
part of the buildings, in consequence of which the theological department,
originally affiliated to the school, was removed to Edinburgh in perpetuity,
so that it is now a public school pure and simple, on the same lines as the
great English schools of Eton, Harrow, and Winchester, and is intended
to save the aristocracy and the lairds the trouble and great expense of
sending their sons to England. This is just the kind of Home Rule we
believe in. Why should not Scotland be able to educate her own sons ?
To show the non-sectarian character of the school, it may be mentioned
that about half the boys are members of the Established and Free Churches
of Scotland. While it is pleasant to be able to note this, our object on
the present occasion is to congratulate the College, its staff, and the com-
mander of its Eifle Volunteer Corps, founded four years ago, on the
national spirit which induced them the other day to adopt the Highland
garb as the uniform of the corps. The tartan, selected after consultation
with the Duke of .Athole who is also Viscount Glenalmond, and whose
ancestors owned the district is the Hunting Murray, and when the men
are in full uniform they wear the Athole badge a sprig of juniper, in
their Glengarry bonnets. Well done Young Glenalmond ! They have
already established their reputation at Wimbledon. Last year Private
Montgomery, a member of the corps, after a tie with the Cheltenham and
Charterhouse teams, won the Spencer Cup, open to the best individual
shots from the great public schools. The appropriate motto of the corps
" Soirbheachadh le Gleann Amuinn " will, we are sure, be echoed by
every old Gleualmond boy who reads this short notice of the junior com-
pany of Highlanders in Athole, so efficiently commanded by Captain
W. E. Frost.
GENEALOGICAL NOTES AND QUERIES. It has been suggested
that we should open a Genealogical Note and Query Column in the
Celtic Magazine, and so aid those interested and engaged in tracing the
genealogies of Highland families. The idea is a good one, and we shall
be glad to set apart a certain amount of space monthly for the purpose.
The Magazine now finds its way into almost all the principal families in
the North of Scotland ; and it will afford us great pleasure to insert any
queries to throw light on any difficult or disputed case of genealogy or
succession which any one may send us, the only condition being that
parties shall send their full names and addresses in confidence. Many of
our subscribers will be found able and willing to answer them.
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 155
ptentture.
THE GAELIC ETYMOLOGY OF THE LANGUAGES OF WESTERN EUROPE,
and more especially of the English and Lowland Scotch, and of their Slang, Cant,
and Colloquial Dialects. By CHARLES MACKAY, LL.D., Fellow of the Koyal
Society of Antiquaries, Denmark.
FIRST NOTICE.
IT is true of every word, as surely as of every person, that it has its
history, and sometimes a very instructive history it may prove ; and it is
the province of the etymologist to furnish the true account of it (etymos=
true, and logos=vfovd) and not the fabulous. It is equally true that every
word has a double history that of its form, and that of its meaning.
The etymologist who would fulfil his task in a trustworthy manner must,
therefore, make himself acquainted first of all with the oldest forms of
that language which he is using as a key, and that not merely in the
narrow groove of one of its dialects, but on the broad basis of all, together
with as many as possible of its cognate languages. A word-detective as
the etymologist is, he must be able, moreover, to discover the disguises,
not only of his own country, but of those countries into which he may
enter in pursuit of runaways. Should an enterprising Celt take a fancy
to a Chateau-en-Espagne, as a detective he should be able to show that
he is a stranger there, and that in this country are to be found his father,
mother, brothers, and sisters. It is essential also to return to the lang-
uage with which he professes to unlock the anomalies of other languages,
that he be endowed with a keen perception of the peculiarities of its
idiom, so as to discover at a glance what is admissible and what is not.
On the other hand, as regards the element of meaning, none can be an
adept in etymology who is not gifted with special insight into the natural
sequence and harmony of ideas the laws by which the mind advances
from the literal to the metaphorical, from the concrete to the abstract.
We are compelled to say that these elementary qualifications seem to
be sadly awanting in the author of this book. Instead of a critic, the
book calls loudly for an apologist, and he who would defend it
wisely and truthfully must set out by disclaiming as untenable by far the
larger portion of its Gaelic etymologies ; and after he has done so, there
remains for him no light work in sifting and rectifying the remainder, and
placing it on such a footing as would command the attention of Gaelic
scholars. We could assure Dr Mackay, should he care for such assurance,
that being specially interested in kindred pursuits, we had every inclina-
tion to give his book a cordial welcome. We could join hands with
him in his warm Celtic sympathies, his love of Gaelic etymology,
and even in the point of view which must have suggested the title of his
book ; but no sooner had we glanced over its pages than we found our-
selves confronted with the problem given an author of acknowledged
merit, on whose well-won laurels on other fields all could cordially con-
gratulate him to account for this truly defective production. Surely, we
thought, this author must have a strong strand of waggery in his mental
texture, and he is practising upon the risible faculties of his countrymen.
When he gives us, as the etymology of Europe, europach = not ropy, not
156 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
tawdry ; for the "French, careme, lent, = Cath-reim, order of battle, be-
cause lent is "the order of 'battle against the lusts of the flesh," we could
aver that the author must have bad a merry twinkle in his eye. This,
however, and other theories failed us at last, but when we found Dr
M. couching his Gaelic lance at such Hebrew expressions as hallelujah,
amen, not to mention the mene, mene, &c., we bethought us of an old book
which has lain on our shelves for several years, and as we believe that
it is mainly accountable for the peculiar style of etymology which per-
vades this book, we must refer to it somewhat more particularly. In 1 799
there was confined in Fort-George an Irish notability of the name of
O'Connor, who styles himself Gear- Rige= hoary or high chief of his
people. He was imprisoned by the British Government on a charge of
treason, but on his own. showing, and he may have been right, for his
incorruptible patriotism. Be this as it may, he published, or there was
published for him, a book in two volumes the first containing what he
calls his Demonstration, and the second his Chronicles of Eri. The
demonstration consists in applying a so-called Irish key to Greek,
Latin, and other Aryan vocables, and while within this area the
etymology is sometimes not amiss, but then he goes full tilt at any thing
in any language. In the scripture name, Chedorlaomar, King of Elam,
0'ConnordiscoversthefourelementsCe'=earth dorisdu'ur= water laom
= fire and ar or athar=air. The Phenician town, Sidon,is Sgadan= herring,
for does not Pliny leave it on record that the coast of Sidon was a favourite
resort of fish ! On such etymologies he elaborates a Chronicle of Ireland
equally reliable with the foundation on which it rests. Now we confess
for ourselves that we owe this book a grudge, for at a time when we were
sufficiently credulous in such matters, it set us oif on a wild-goose chase,
rummaging in every old Irish book within our reach, trying to authen-
ticate the vocables with which this worthy divined, till at length we
were driven to the conclusion that several of them had no existence but in
his own brain, in which sense and nonsense had become so hopelessly
intertwined as to defy any prospect of disentanglement. The most feasible
theory on which a considerable portion of Dr M.'s etymologies can be
explained is, we are persuaded, the O'Connor mania. Some of his
wildest, or next to the Avildest, etymologies we have found in O'Connor's
" Demonstration." The Gaelic Hallejujah is found there, and somewhat
more candidly than Dr Mackay he renders it alloil-laaidh = dismal praise,
and to be consistent stoutly maintains that the Jews mode of praise was
very dismal ! This might pass for etymology in 1 799 and yet Edward
Lhuyd published his noble Archaeologioi in 1707, nearly a century
earlier; but how so intelligent a writer as Dr Mackay undoubtedly is,
could expose himself and his language to the mockery of Sabbath school
children by this grotesque rendering of hallelujah (if we must gravely
parse it) halel-u = praise 'ye halelu Jah-= praise ye Jah, passes compre-
hension on any other ground than the O'Connor mania. Doubtless,
Dr Mackay has sat at the feet of O'Connor and has outrivalled his
teacher. As for amen, a glance at any Hebrew Lexicon might have taught
him that the Gaelic aw=timo or season, has not the remotest connexion
with it; the fundamental idea of omen, in common Avith a considerable number
of its derivative vocables in Hebrew and kindred languages being trttlh.
Hence the agreement with which it is rendered in most Aryan tongues; e.g.,
.THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 157
our own Gaelic gu deimhingii firinneach, Manx dy firinnagli, "Welsh yn
loir, Italian in verita, Spanish en verdant, French en verity, German
vahrlich, English verily. Who can doubt the connection of these expres-
sions with each other, and no more do ice doubt that they are derived
not from the Latin verus but from a much older source our own Gaelic
fior (fir) = true. And what is it but to err still more egregiously when
this same am= season is made to represent mo in parHamo, as the index
of time. Had the writer given beurlamaid as the equivalent of parliamo,
and of the French parlous, and made our mid or med (an old plural of
mi) the equivalent of mo, of Latin mus and Greek men and metha, he
would have been walking in the right direction. Our Gaelic beurla,
though now restricted to the sense of English formerly meant language in
general, for Edward Lhuyd, in his introduction to his Irish Grammar
says of that language " ged nach i mo bheurla mhatharail " though it be
not my mother tongue. And now to dismiss the Semitic affinities, we are
very far from saying that such do not exist. We have a strong opinion that
though comparatively few, there are affinities which are unmistakable
between the great divisions of the Aryan and Semitic, and of which the
Celtic family contains the most striking on the Ayran side ; but we do
say, in all good feeling, that Dr M. is not the man to deal with what is
confessedly one of the most difficult problems within the range of linguistic
science.
As for such expressions as " Kick the bucket," " Davy Jones' locker,"
" Cut your stick," &c., we feel confident that persons of less fertile fancy
than our author's are not in the least disposed to question their maternity,
nor are they unable to comprehend the idea which they convey. Let
them, therefore, in all reason, be restored to the language of their birth.
We come now to a field on which, if anywhere, we are entitled to
look for judicious and discriminative treatment that of Gaelic unlock-
ing the difficulties of English ; and yet on this his own chosen field our
author betrays strange incapacity. Let us give an example or two.
1. Amaze amazement. We hold with Dr Mackay that these words
are of Celtic origin, but to offer as their Gaelic representatives masan and
masanacli is absurd. The root is the first syllable am.
Uamh=SLwe, fear, hence uamlias (old form, uamad or uamas)= amaze-
ment ; another noun is uamhunn=feaY (old form, uamunn). Welsh ofn
ofnid ofnol, e.g., ofn y pobyll=uamhunn a phobuill, the fear of the people ;
also the Latin omen and English omen and ominous. Adjective uamhasach
=awful or amazing. Then from the same root you have uamh-fhear=
awe-man or giant, and a modern form famhar. May not thus the Greek
/o6os=fear, and fobeo = I fear, be from this root also ? At the least it may
be accepted that the Greek thauma (old form, thaumad or thaumat),
wonder, and thaumazo, I wonder, am amazed, are cognate, if not deriva-
tive.
2. It was indicated in the outset that, to the etymologist, acquaintance
with the oldest forms of any language with which he is dealing is of the
utmost importance. Had the old spelling of can) we = lent, been known to
our. author, it would have saved him from one at least of his mistakes.
In the French version of Calvin's works the spelling, if we remember
aright, is always caresme, and in this old spelling, as pretty often is the
case in other instances, you have the clue to the true derivation. Lent
158 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
in the Catholic Church, as most people know, has reference to our
Saviour's forty days' fast in the wilderness, and is styled quadragcsima,
or fortiethday, and thence Italian quaresima or digiuno di 40 giorni ;
Spanish, cuadragesima or cuarcsima. So the French caresme modern
careme is simply a modification of quarantiemo. Turning again to the Celtic
terms for lent, in none of them do we find a trace of the crtM/vuw= order
of battle etymology, e.g., Gaelic cairbJtcas, Irish carghas, Manx
cJiargijs, Welsh y graioys, Armoric coaras and yet when cairlh-eas=
flesh -destitution, or want, offers itself as at least a plausible etymology,
we are reminded of two things; (1) the suspicious resemblance of most of
these words to qnadragesima, alias caresima ; and (2) that the Celts must
have received their lent with the introduction of the Catholic form of
Christianity.
3. Besides all this, the reader is too often treated to etymologies
which do not afford even a plausible resemblance to the words for which
they are offered for substitutes. Too often have the weapons of sarcasm
been flung, and flung to some purpose, against what is styled phonetic
etymology ; but here the reader every now and then encounters in sound
and in sense alike the most unaccountable violations of probability. Who
but our author could gravely offer for canopy, ceann-bhrat, or ceann-bheart
=head covering or head-dress ? How could the latter be transferred into
the former? whereas you have but to assume that cainpe^liemp, was
the material of which canopies, draperies, couches, &c., were originally
made, and you have an etymology which is thoroughly satisfactory in
every way.
Canape or eajw/?=hemp. Irish canaib and cnaib, Arm. canaib, Latin
cannabis, Greek cannabis, Sanscrit sana, Italian canapa and canape,
Spanish canamo, Fr. chanvre, Lithuarean kanape, Dutch Jcennip, Prussian
konopea, Islandic hanp, Anglo-Saxon haenep, Old German hanaf, English
hemp. The immense area over which this word is known would of itself go
far to indicate that of textile fabrics it may have been the earliest material.
The most obvious derivatives are the following : In Gaelic, canat'pe
fhliucli = the wet sheet in which delinquents not many ages ago professed
penitence in Scotland ; Spanish, canape = a couch, canapo and canapalo =
cable, cordage ; Sp. canomas, Gaelic canaibcas, English canvas and, Query,
English cable.
4. Once more in the line of strictures, it must be obvious, on the
slightest reflection, that a word cannot have but one origin the origin
cannot be this or that, and more especially when the this and that are
wide as the poles asunder. Where a definite conclusion cannot be reached,
better were it to leave the word alone, and that on the plain principle
that better far is no beacon than a false one and no guide than a blind one.
Every now and again you come upon an alternative etymology in this
book ; while a single glance can satisfy you that the alternatives have not
the remotest connection with each other. Take one instance, and only
one for this line of remark is quite as distasteful to the writer as it
can be to the author. On page 417, for soar=to mount in the air, you
have the etymology submitted in the optional style first, sor=free and
verb set free (though we should prefer so-ar= easily mounting, easily
rising aloft, as the more likely) ; but if either the one or other, how could
it be sdv, the radical idea of which is oppression- Compare the following
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
affinities : Sdr is used adverbially to qualifiy nouns and adjectives and
verbs exactly as the Scotch and Germans use it sair and sehr, and
English sore, e.g., sar-laockn thorough hero, sar-mhaith thoroughly
good, &c. Yerb saraich = to distress, oppress. Hence, sharaich (harich),
Greek liarasso, and English harass.
While in the interests of Gaelic scholarship we have felt bound to
show the defects of this book, it were more than ungracious to pass
silently over its merits. The author's intimate acquaintance with the nooks
and crannies of our national literature has enabled him to bring into
prominence several hitches in the etymologies of others, which cannot fail
to tend to further investigation. Besides all this, there are words of
doubtful meaning, and of no meaning, on which he has put his finger, and
if he has failed in some instances to light upon the true etymology others
who look at them from a wider point of view may be able to furnish
the true interpretation. Let it also be cheerfully conceded that a con-
siderable portion of Dr Mackay's etymologies are very solid and very sug-
gestive. These, if separated from those which are but vague and hap-
hazard guesses, and more fully fortified and illustrated by the results of
comparative philology, would form a contribution to the whole subject
of the relation of the Celtic and Teutonic dialects which should merit the
warm gratitude of scholars. When circumstances permit we hope to
return to the subject, and to dwell more on these instances in which our
author has hit the mark,
KILMOBACK. AND. D. MACKENZIE.
BEST IN THE FIGHT.
From the life- wearing battle for bread,
From the weary trammels of toil,
Where Autumn's enchantments iu glory are spread,
I hie with delight fwr awhile :
The slave may worship his wealth,
And ne'er from his idol shrine range ;
But richer is he who enriches his health,
By tasting the pleasures of change.
I'll away to the blue Highland hills,
'Mid Nature's sweet virginal dreams,
"Where the dark pines sigh to the song of the rills,
Or croon to the music of streams ;
Where flowers their beauty reveal,
Where winds soft melodies blow,
Where the careworn heart of the toiler can feel
The peace of a heaven below.
There the fire of the soul is renewed
By the l.'iuch of a magic hand ;
There the eye with a song gleam flash is imbued
'Neath the spells of the mountain land
Away-unfettered and free,
Away from the pallor of toil,
The mountains and glens of the Highlands give me
To roam in, to roain in awhile.
WM. ALLAN.
160
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
Slow, withfcdiii;/.
R A N GAOIL.
1
^t=
4-U>
Much 's mi 'g eiridh gu reidhlean feoir, Air maduinn cheitein mun d' eirich ceo,
Chunnacas eucag, inar shoillsean greine, Chuir saigheacl chreuchdach, gu geurn'am fheoil.
Key D.
r . m i s : 1 . s : m ., d I r : : d 1 . 1 I r 1 : m 1 . r 1 : d' ., 1 | s :
i
d 1 . 1 | r' : m' . r : d' ., 1 | s : 1 : r , m | s : 1 . s : m ., d I r : -II
Is boi'che sheallas ri latha fliuch,
Do shlios mar chanach, air feadh nan torn,
No mar eala, 's i snamh nan tonn ?
Do bheul, deargtana, o'n cubhraidh anail,
'S tu 's binne, banail, a sheinneas fonn.
'S beag an t-ioghnadh ged tha thu mor,
'S gach sruthan uaibhreach tha suas n d' phor,
'S tu 'n fhior bhean uasal, do 'n nadur uallach,
'S tu 's grinne dh' fhuaitneas, 's as gile meoir.
Thug raise gaol dut, a gheug nam buadh,
'S tu 'n ainnir fhinealt, dha 'n geill an sluagh,
Corp fallain direach, mar chraobhan ginis,
Le meoir a cinntinn, fo bhlath a suas.
'S truagh nach ro mi mar an driuchd.
'S tus' ad' fhlur ann am bun na'n stuchd,
Chumain urachd ri bun gach flur dhiot.
'S cha leiginn lub orr ri teas no fuachd.
Cait an teid mi no co an taobh {
'H gu'm faigh mi t-eugais a chuir air chul
Ged theid mi dh' Eirinn, no fhad s is leur dhomh,
Cha'n fhaic mi te bhios co maiseach gnuis.
Se bhi air faondraidh an eilean fais,
An riochd na h-eala gun dim-am bais
Gun sgaoilinn sgiathan a ghaoil ri d' chliathaich
'S cha bhithinn flata ri chuir an sas.
NOTE. Mrs Mary Mackellar, the well-known poetess, sending us the above song, wrote re-
garding it as follows : " The abore song was composed by a Lochaber gentleman in praise of the
late Mrs Macdonald, Inch, Brae-Lochaber, a lady who was so surpassingly lovely that she was
considered the very queen of beauty in her day in the Highlands. This unfortunate gentleman,
who loved so well in v.'iin, taught the song to a servant lie had, who had a flne voice, and he used
to make her sins it whilst he lay near her with his face buried in the grass listening to his own
sad verses. Even years after he was married to another and his beloved the wife of a more
successful suitor he used to go to her to sing it to him whilst he the while lay suffering over
again the same old pain. I got the song when recently in Fort-William, from a young lady,
and to hear her play and sing it made it in very deed seem to me the pathetic wail of a sorrow-
ful heart." W. M'K.
THE
CELTIC MAGAZINE.
No. XLI. MAECH, 1879. VOL. IV.
HISTOEY OF THE CLAN MACKENZIE,
WITH GENEALOGIES OF THE P11INC1PAL FAMILIES.
BY THE EDITOR.
[CONTINUED. |
XIX. KENNETH, afterwards created Earl of Seaforth, Viscount Fort-
rose, and Baron Ardelve, in the peerage of Ireland. From his small stature,
he was more commonly known among the Highlanders as the " Little
Lord." He was born in Edinburgh on the 15th of January 1744, and at
an early age entered the army. As a reward for his father's loyalty to
the House of Hanover during the troubles of 1745, and his own steady
support of the reigning family, he was, by George III., in 1766, raised
to the peerage by the title of Viscount Fortrose, and Baron Ardelve, in
the Kingdom of Ireland, and in 1771 he was created Earl of Seaforth in
the peerage of the same kingdom. To evince his gratitude for this mag-
nanimous act, in 1778 he offered to raise a regiment for general
service. The offer was accepted by his Majesty, and a fine body
of 1130 men were in a very short time raised by the Earl, principally
on his own estates in the north, and by gentlemen of his own
name. Of these five hundred were raised among his immediate
vassals, and about four hundred from the estates of the Mackenzies of
Scatwell, Kilcoy, Eedcastle, and Applecross. The officers from the
south to whom he granted commissions in the Eegiment brought about
two hundred men, of whom forty-three were English and Irish. The
Macraes of Kin tail, who had always proved such faithful followers and able
supporters of the House of Seaforth, were so numerous in the regiment
that it was known more by the name of the Macraes than by that of
Seaforth's own kinsmen, and so much was this the case that the well-
known mutiny which took place in Edinburgh, on the arrival of the
regiment there, is still called " the affair of the Macraes"* The regiment
* The Seaforth Highlanders were marched to Leith, where they were quartered for
a short interval, though long enough to produce complaints about the infringement of
their engagements, and some pay and bounty which they said were due them. Their
disaffection was greatly increased by the activity of emissaries from Edinburgh, like
those just mentioned as having gone down from London to Portsmouth. The regiment
refused to embark, and marching out of Leith, with pipes playing and two plaids fixed
on poles instead of colours, took a position on Arthur's seat, of which they kept posses-
N
162 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
was embodied at Elgin in May 1778, aud was inspected by General
Skene, when it was found so effective that not a single man was rejected.
Seaforth, who was on the 29th of December 1777 appointed Colonel, was
now promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel-Commandant, and the
regiment was called the 78th, or Eoss-shire Eegiment of Highlanders.
The grievances complained of at Leith having been removed, the regi-
ment embarked at that port, accompanied by their Colonel, the noble
Earl, and the intention of sending them to India then having been aban-
doned, one half of the regiment was sent to Guernsey and the other half
to Jersey. Towards the end of April 1781 the two divisions assembled
at Portsmouth, whence they embarked for India on the 1 2th of June fol-
lowing, being then 973 strong, rank and file. Though in excellent
health, the men suffered so much from scurvy, in consequence of the
change of food, that before their arrival at Madras, on the 2d of April 1782,
247 of them died, and out of those who landed alive only 369 were in a
fit state for service. Their Chief and Colonel died before they arrived at
St Helena, to the great grief and dismay of his faithful followers, who
looked up to him as their principal support. His loss was naturally asso-
ciated in their minds with the recollections of home, Avith melancholy re-
membrances of their absent kindred, and with forebodings of their own
future destiny, and so strong was this feeling impressed upon them that
it materially contributed to that prostration of mind which made them
the more readily become the victims of disease. They well knew that it
was on their account alone that he had determined to forego the comforts
of a splendid fortune and high rank to encounter the privations and in-
conveniences of a long voyage, and the dangers and other fatigues of
military service in a tropical climate.*
His Lordship, on the 7th of October 1765, married Lady Caroline
Stanhope, eldest daughter of William, second Earl of Harrington, and by
her who died in London from a consumption under which she laboured
for nearly two years, on the 9th of February 1767, at the early age of
twenty, t and was buried at Kensington he had issue, an only daughter,
Caroline, born in London on the 7th of July 1766. She married Count
Melfort, a nobleman of the Kingdom of France, but originally of Scottish
extraction, and died without issue in 1847.
Thus the line of George, second Earl of Seaforth, who died in 1633,
became extinct ; and it now becomes necessary to carry the reader back
to Kenneth Mor, third Earl of Seaforth, to pick up the chain of legitimate
succession. It has been already shown how the lineal descent of the old
line of Kintail has been directed from heirs male in the person of Ann,
Countess of Balcarres, daughter of Colin, first Earl of Seaforth.
sion for several days, during which time the inhabitants ef Edinburgh amply supplied
them with provisions and ammunition. After much negotiation, a proper understand-
ing respecting the causes of their complaint was brought about, and they marched down
the hill in the same manner in which they had gone up, with pipes playing ; and, "with
the Earls of Seaforth and Dunmore, and General Skene, at their head. They entered
Leitb, and went on board the transports with the greatest readiness and cheerfulness."
In this case, as in that of the Athole Highlanders, none ot the men were brought to
trial, or even put into confinement, for these acts of open resistance. Stewart's Sketches
Appendix p. Irjcsit:
* Stewart's Sketches, and Fullarton's History of the Highland Clans and Highland
Regiments.
t Scots Magazine for 1767, p, 538.
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 163
Kenneth M6r had three sons, Kenneth Og, his heir and successor,
whose line terminated in Lady Caroline, Countess Melfort ; John of
Assynt, whose only son, Kenneth, died without issue ; Hugh, who died
young; and Colonel Alexander, afterwards designated of Assynt and
Conansbeg, and who married Elizabeth, daughter of John Paterson,
Bishop of Eoss, and sister of John Paterson, Archbishop of Glasgow.
He had an only son and six daughters. The daughters were Isa-
bella, who married Basil Hamilton of Baldoon, became mother of
Dunbar, fourth Earl of Selkirk, and died in 1725 ; Frances,
who married her cousin, Kenneth Mackenzie of Assynt, without
issue ; Jane, married Dr Mackenzie, a cadet of the family of Coul, and
died at New Tarbet, 18th September 1776 [Scots Magazine, vol. 38,
p. 510] ; Mary, married Captain Dougal Stewart of Blairhall, M.P., a
Lord of Session and Justiciary, and brother of the first Earl of Bute, with
issue ; Elizabeth, died unmarried at Kirkcudbright, on the 1 2th of March
1796, aged 81 [Gentleman's Magazine, vol. 66, p. 357] ; and Maria, who
married Nicholas Price of Saintfield, County Down, Ireland, and had issue.
She was maid of honour to Queen Caroline, and died in 1732 [Burke's
Landed Gentry]. The son was Major "William Mackenzie, who married Mary,
the daughter and co-heiress of Mathew Humberstone, Lincoln, by whom he
had issue, two sons, first, Thomas Frederick Mackenzie, who assumed the
name of Humberston on succeeding to his mother's property, and who was
Colonel of the 100th .Regiment of foot; and second, Francis Humberston
Mackenzie. Major William had also four daughters ; Frances Cerjat, who
married Sir Vicary Gibbs,M.P.,his Majesty's Attorney-General, with issue ;
Maria Rebecca, married Alexander Mackenzie of Breda, younger son of John
Mackenzie of Applecross, with issue ; and Helen, who married Major-
General Alexander Mackenzie Eraser of Inverallachie, fourth son of Colin
Mackenzie of Kilcoy, Colonel of the 78th Regiment, and M.P. for the
County of Ross, with issue. William died on the 12th of March 1770, at
Stafford, Lincolnshire [Scots Magazine, vol. 32, p. 167]. His wife died
on the 19th of February 1813, at Hartley, Herts [Scots Magazine, vol.
75, p. 240]. Colonel Thomas F. Mackenzie Humberston, it will be seen,
thus became male heir to his consin, Earl Kenneth, who died, without male
issue, in 1781, and who, finding his property heavily encumbered with
debts from which he could not extricate himself, conveyed the estates
to his cousin and heir male, Colonel Thomas, in the year 1779, on pay-
ment to him of 100,000. He died, as already stated, in 1781, and was
succeeded by his cousin,
XX. COLONEL THOMAS FREDERICK MACKENZIE HUMBERSTON, in all
his extensive estates, and in the command of the 78th Ross-shire High-
land Regiment, but not in the titles and dignities, which ended
with his predecessor. When, in 1778, the 78th was raised, Thomas T. F.
Mackenzie Humberston was a captain in the 1st Regiment of Dragoon
Guards, but notwithstanding this he accepted a captaincy in Seaforth's regi-
ment of Ross-shire Highlanders. He was afterwards quartered with the
latter regiment in Jersey,and took a prominent share in repelling the attack
made on that island by the French. Soon after, in 1781, he embarked
with the regiment to the East Indies, with the rank of Lieutenant-
Colonel, and was at Port Preya when the outward bound East Indian
164 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
fleet under Commodore Johnston was attacked by the French. He hap-
pened at the time to be ashore, but such was his ardour to share in the
action that he swam to one of the ships engaged with the enemy.
As soon as he arrived in India he obtained a separate command
on the Malabar Coast, but in its exercise he met with every dis-
couragement from the Council of Bombay. This gave him a greater op-
portunity of distinguishing himself, for under all the disadvantages of
having money, stores, and reinforcements withheld from him, he under-
took, with 1000 Exiropeans and 2500 Sepoys to wage an offensive war
against Calicut. He was conscious of great resources in his own mind,
and harmony, confidence, and attachment on the part of his officers and
men. He drove the enemy out of the country, defeated them in three
different engagements, took the city of Calicut, and every other place of
strength in the kingdom. He concluded a treaty with the King of Tra-
vancore, who was reinforced with a force of 1200 men. Tipoo now pro-
ceeding against him with 30,000 men, more than one-third of whom were
cavalry, Colonel Mackenzie Humberston repelled their attack, and by
a rapid march regained the Fort of Panami, which the enemy attempted to
carry, but he defeated them with great loss. He served under General
Mathews against Hyder Ali in 1782- but during the operations of that
campaign, Mathews gave such proofs of misconduct, incapacity, and in-
justice, that Colonels Macleod and Humberston carried their complaints
to the Council of Bombay, where they arrived on the 26th of February
1783. The Council ordered General Mathews to be superseded, appointed
Colonel Macleod to succeed him in command of the army, and desired
Colonel Humberston to join him. They both sailed from Bombay on
the 5th of April 1783, in the Ranger sloop of war ; but, notwithstanding
that peace had been concliided with the Mahrattas, that vessel was attacked
on the 8th of that month by the Mahratta fleet, and after a desperate
resistance of four hours, was taken possession of. All the officers on
board were either killed or wounded, among them the young and gallant
Colonel Mackenzie Humberston, who was shot through the body with a
four pound ball, and died of the wound at Geriah on the 30th of April
1783, in the 28th year of his age. He had thus only been Chief of the
Clan for the short space of two years, and, dying unmarried, he was
succeeded by his only brother,*
XXI. FRANCIS HUMBERSTON MACKENZIE, afterwards raised to the
peerage by*the title of his ancestors, Earl of Seaforth. This nobleman,
in many respects a very able and remarkable man, was born in
1754, in full possession of all his faculties; but a severe attack of
scarlet fever from which he suffered when about twelve years of age,
deprived him of hearing and almost of speech. As he advanced in
life he again almost entirely recovered the faculty of speech, but during
the latter two years of his life, grieving over the loss of his four promising
sons, all of whom predeceased him, he became quite unable, or rather
never made any attempt to articulate. He was in his youth intended
by his parents to follow the naval profession, but his physical misfor-
tunes made such a career impossible.
Little or nothing is known of the history of his early life. In 1784,
and again in 1790, he was elected M.P. for the County of Eoss. In 1787,
* Douglas' Peerage.
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 165
in the thirty-third year of his age, he offered to raise a regiment on his own
estates for the King's service, to be commanded by himself. In the same
year the 74th, 75th, 76th, and 77th Regiments were raised, and the Go-
vernment declined Mr Mackenzie's offer; but agreed to accept his services in
the matter of procuring recruits for the 74th and 75th. This did not please
him, and he did not then come prominently to the front. On the 19th
of May 1790, he renewed his oiler, but the Government informed him
that the strength of the army had been finally fixed at seventy-seven
regiments, and his services were again declined. He was still anxious to
be of service to his sovereign, and when the war broke out, in 1793, he
again renewed his offer, and placed his great influence at the service of
the Crown ; and we find a letter of service granted in his favour dated
the 7th of March 1793, empowering him, as Lieutenant-Colonel-Com-
mandant, to raise a Highland battalion, which, being the first embodied
during the war, was to be numbered the 78th, the original Mackenzie
regiment having had its number previously reduced to the 72d. The bat-
talion was to consist of 1 company of Grenadiers, 1 of light infantry, and
8 battalion companies. The Chief at once appointed as his Major his
own brother-in-law, Alexander Mackenzie of Belmaduthy, a son of Kilcoy,
then a captain in the 73d Eegiment, and a man who proved himself on all
future occasions well fitted for the post. The following notice, headed
by the Eoyal arms, was immediately posted throughout the Counties of
Boss and Cromarty, on the mainland, and in the Island of Lews :
" Seaforth's Highlanders to be forthwith raised for the defence of his
Glorious Majesty, King George the Third, and the preservation of our
happy constitution in Church and State.
" All lads of true Highland blood willing to show their loyalty and
spirit, may repair to Seaforth, or the Major, Alexander Mackenzie of Bel-
maduthy ; or the other commanding officers at headquarters, at ....
where they will receive high bounties and soldier-like entertainment.
" The lads of this regiment will live and die together, as they cannot
be draughted into other regiments, and must be reduced in a body, in
their own country.
" Now for a stroke at the Monsieurs, my boys ! King George for
ever ! Huzza ! "
The machinery once set agoing, applications poured in upon Seaforth
for commissions in the corps from among his own more immediate rela-
tives, and from others who were but slightly acquainted with him.*
The martial spirit of the people soon became thoroughly roused, and
recruits came in so rapidly that on the 10th of July 1793, only four
months after the granting of the Letter of Service in favour of Seaforth,
* Besides Seaforth himself, and his Major mentioned in the text, the following,
of the name of Mackenzie, appear among the first list of officers :
Major. Alexander Mackenzie of Fairburn, General in 1809.
Captains. John Mackenzie of Gairloch, " Fighting Jack," Major 1794, Lieutenant-
Colonel the same year, and Lieutenant-General in 1814. Died the father of
the British Army in 1860 ; J. Randoll Mackenzie of Suddie, Major-General
in 1804, killed at Talavera 1809.
Lieutenant, Colin Mackenzie, Lieutenant-Colonel 91st Regiment.
Ensigns. Charles Mackenzie, Kilcoy j and J, Mackenzie Scott, Captain 57th Regi-
ment. Killed at Albuera.
16G THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
the regiment was marched to Fort-George, inspected and passed by Lieut. -
General Sir Hector Munro, after which five companies were immediately
embarked for Guernsey, and the other five companies landed in Jersey in
September 1793, after which they were sent to Holland.
On the 13th of October in the same year, Seaforth offered to raise a
second battalion for the 78th, and on the 30th of the same month the
King granted him permission to raise five hundred additional men on
the original letters of service. This was not, however, what he
wanted, and on the 28th of December following he submitted three
alternative proposals, for raising a second battalion, to the Government.
On the 7th of February 1794, one of these was agreed to. The battalion
was to consist of eight battalion and two flank companies, each to consist
of 100 men, with the usual number of officers and non-commissioned
officers. Seaforth was, however, disappointed by the Government ; for
while he intended to have raised a second battalion to his own regiment,
an order was issued, signed by Lord Amherst, that it was to be considered
as a separate corps, whereupon the Lieutenant-Colonel-Commandant ad-
dressed the following protest to Mr Dundas, one of the Secretaries of
State: " St Alban Street, 8th February 1794. Sir, I had sincerely
hoped I should not be obliged to trouble you again ; but on my going to-
day to the War Office about my letter of service (having yesterday, as I
thought, finally agreed with Lord Amherst), I was, to my amazement,
told that Lord Amherst had ordered that the 1000 men I am to raise
were not to be a second battalion of the 78th, but a separate corps. It
will, I am sure, occur to you that should I undertake such a thing, it
would destroy my influence among the people of my country entirely ;
and instead of appearing as a loyal honest chieftain calling out his friends
to support their King and country, I should be gibbeted as a jobber of
the attachment my neighbours bear to me. Recollecting what passed be-
tween you and me, I barely state this circumstance ; and I am, with
great respect and attachment, sir, your most obliged and obedient servant.
(Signed), F. H. MACKENZIE." This had the desired effect, the order for
a separate corps was rescinded, and a letter of service was granted to
Seaforth on the 10th of February 1794, authorising him, as Lieutenant-
Colonel-Commandant, to add the new battalion, of which the strength
was to be one company of Grenadiers, one of light infantry, and eight
battalion companies to his own regiment. The regiment was soon raised;
and inspected and passed at Fort-George in June of the same year by Sir
Hector Munro, and in July following the King granted permission to
have it named, as a distinctive title, " The Koss-shire Buffs." The two
battalions were amalgamated in June 1796. Another battalion was raised
in 1804 Letter of Service, date 17th April. These were again amalga-
mated in July 1817.* Though the regiment was not accompanied abroad
by its Lieutenant-Colonel-Commandant, he was always most solicitous for
its reputation and welfare, as we find from the various communications
addressed to him regarding the regiment and the conduct of the men by
Lieutenant-Colonel Alexander Mackenzie of Fairburn, who was appointed
* For these particulars we are mainly indebted to Fullarton's Highland Clans and
Regiments, and to Stewart's Sketches.
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
Lieutenant-Colonel from the first battalion,* and now in actual command,
but as the history of the 78th Highlanders is not our present object, we
must meanwhile part company with it and follow the future career of
Francis Humberston Mackenzie. As a reward for his eminent services to
the Government he was appointed Lord-Lieutenant of the County of Ross,
and, 26th October 1797, raised to the dignity of a peer of the United
Kingdom as Lord Seaforth and Baron Mackenzie of Kintail, the ancient
dignities of his house, with limitation to heirs male of his body. His
Lordship, having resigned the command of the 78th, was, in 1798, ap-
pointed Colonel of the Ross-shire Regiment of Militia. In 1800 he was
appointed Governor of Barbadoes, an office which he held for six years,
after which he held high office in Demerara and Berbice. While Governor
of Barbadoes he was at first extremely popular, and was distinguished for
his firmness and even-handed justice, and he succeeded in putting an end
to slavery, and to the practice of slave-killing in the island, which at that
time was a pretty common occurrence, and deemed by the planters a
venial offence punishable only by a small fine of 15. In consequence
of this humane proceeding he became obnoxious to many of the colonists,
and he finally left the place in 1806. In 1808 he was made a Lieutenant-
General. These were singular incidents in the life of one who may be
said to have been deaf and dumb from his youth ; but who, in spite of
these physical defects sufficient to crush any ordinary man, had, by the
force of his natural abilities and the favour of fortune, been able to over-
come them sufficiently to raise himself to such a high and important posi-
tion in the world. He also took a lively interest in all questions of art
and science, especially in natural history, and displayed at once his
liberality and his love of art by his munificence to Sir Thomas Lawrence,
in the youth and struggles of that great artist and famous painter, and
by his patronage of others. On this point a recent writer says
" The last Baron of Kintail, Francis, Lord Seaforth, was, as Sir Walter
has said, ' a nobleman of extraordinary talents, who must have made for
himself a lasting reputation, had not his political exertions been checked
by painful natural infirmities.' Though deaf from his sixteenth year and
though labouring under a partial impediment of speech, he held high and
important appointments, and was distinguished for his intellectual acti-
vities and attainments His case seems to contradict the
opinion held by Kitto and others, that in all that relates to the culture of
the mind, and the cheerful exercise of the mental faculties, the blind have
the advantage of the deaf. The loss of the ear, that ' vestibule of the
soul,' was to him compensated by gifts and endowments rarely united in
the same individual. Ono instance of the Chief's liberality and love of
art may be mentioned. In 1796 he advanced a sum of 1000 to Sir
Thomas Lawremce to relieve him from pecuniary difficulties. Lawrence
was then a young man of twenty-seven. His career from a boy upwards
was one of brilliant success, but he was careless and generous as to money
matters, and some speculations by his father embarrassed and distressed
the young artist. In his trouble he applied to the Chief of Kintail.
' Will you,' he said in that theatrical style common to Lawrence, ' will
* J. Randoll Mackenzie, also from the first battalion, was appointed senior major.
168 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
you be the Antonio to a Bassanio V He promised to pay the 1000 in
four years, but the money Avas given on terms the most agreeable to the
feelings, and complimentary to the talents of the artist. He was to repay
it with his pencil, and the Chief sat to him for his portrait. Lord Sea-
forth also commissioned from West one of those immense sheets of canvas
on which the old Academician delighted to work in his latter years. The
subject of the picture was the traditionary story of the Royal hunt, in
which Alexander the Third was saved from the assault of a fierce stag
by Colin Fitzgerald, a wandering knight unknown to authentic history.
West considered it one of his best productions, charged 800 for it, and
was willing some years afterwards, with a view to the exhibition of his
works, to purchase back the picture at its original cost. In one instance
Lord Seaforth did not evince artistic taste. He dismantled Brahan
Castle, removing its castellated features, and completely modernising its
general appearance. The house, with its large modern additions, is a
tall, massive pile of building, the older portion covered to the roof with
ivy. It occupies a commanding site on a bank midway between the river
Conon and a range of picturesque rocks. This bank extends for miles,
sloping in successive terraces, all richly wooded or cultivated, and com-
manding a magnificent view that terminates with the Moray Firth.*
The remarkable prediction of the extinction of this highly distinguished
and ancient family is already well known to the reader, and its literal
fulfilment is one of the most curious instances of the kind on record.
There is no doubt that the "prophecy" was well known throughout
the Highlands generations before it was fulfilled. Lockhart, in his " Life
of Sir Walter Scott," says that " it connected the fall of the house of Sea-
forth not only with the appearance of a deaf ' Cabarfeidh,' but with the
contemporaneous appearance of various different physical misfortunes in
several of the other Highland Chiefs, all of which are said to have actually
occurred within the memory of the generation that has not yet passed
away. Mr Morrit can testify thus, for that he heard the prophecy quoted
in the Highlands at a time when Lord Seaforth had two sons alive, and
in good health, and that it certainly was not made after the event," and
then he proceeds to say that Scott and Sir Humphrey Davy were
most certainly convinced of its truth, as also many others who had
watched the latter days of Seaforth in the light of those wonderful prc-
dictions.t
* Review of "The Seaforth Papers" in the North British Review, 1863, by the
late Robert Carruthers, LL.D.
t "Every Highland family has its store of traditionary and romantic beliefs. Cen-
turies ago a seer of the Clan Mackenzie, known as Kenneth Oag (Odhar), predicted that
when there should be a deaf Caberfae the gift-land of the estate would be sold, and the
male line become extinct. The prophecy was well known in the Noith, and it was not,
like many similar vaticinations, made after the event. At least three unimpeachable
Sassenach writers, Sir Humphrey Davy, Sir Walter Scott, and Mr Morritt of Rokeby,
had all heard the prediction when Lord Seaforth had two sons alive, both in good health.
The tenantry were, ot course, strongly impressed with the truth of the prophecy, and
when their Chief proposed to sell part of Kintail, they offered to buy in the land for
him, that it might not pass from the family, One son was then living, and there was
no immediate prospect of the succession expiring ; but, in deference to the clannish
prejudice or affection, the sale of any portion of the estate was deferred for about two
years. The blow came at last. Lord Seaforth was involved in West India plantations,
which were mismanaged, and he was forced to dispose of part of the " gift land." About
the same time the last of his four sons, a young man of talent and eloquence, and then
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 169
His Lordship outlived all his four sons as predicted by the Brahan
Seer. His name became extinct, and his vast possessions were inherited by a
stranger, Mr Stewart, who married the eldest daughter, Lady Hood. She
afterwards, by accident, killed her own sister ; and the sign by which it was
to be known that these events were about to happen was also foretold in a
remarkable manner, namely, that there would be in the days of
the last Seaforth four great contemporary lairds, distinguished by
physical defects predicted by the Seer. Sir Hector Mackenzie, Bart, of
Gairloch, was buck-toothed, and is to this day spoken of among the Gair-
loch tenantry as " An-tighearna Storach," or the buck-toothed laird.
Chisholm of Chisholm was hair-lipped. Grant of Grant half-witted, and
Macleod of Raasay a stammerer.*
In addition to the testimony of those whose names we have already
stated, we shall give that of a living witness. Duncan Davidson of Tul-
loch, in a letter addressed to the writer, dated May 21, 1878, says
" Many of these prophecies I heard of upwards of 70 years ago, and when
many of them were not fulfilled, such as the late Lord Seaforth sur-
viving his sons, and Mrs Stewart Mackenzie's accident, near Brahan, by
which Miss Caroline Mackenzie was killed."
One cannot help sympathising with the magnificent old Chief as he
mourned over the premature death of his four fine sons, and saw the
honours of his house for ever extinguished in his own person. Many
stories are related of his munificent extravagance at home, sailing round
the West Coast while on his visits to the great principality of the Lews,
and calling on his way hither and thither on the other great chieftains of
the West and Western Islands. Of him Sir Walter Scott says in his
" Lament for ' the last of the Seaforths'"
In vain the bright course of thy talents to wrong,
Fate deadened thine ear and imprisoned thy tongue,
For brighter o'er all her obstructions arose
The glow of thy genius they could not oppose ;
And who, in the land of the Saxon or Gael
Could match with Mackenzie, High Chief of Kiutail ?
Thy sons rose around thee in light and in love,
All a father could hope, all a friend could approve ;
What 'vails it the tale of thy sorrows to tell ?
In the spring time of youth and of promise they fell !
Of the line of MacKenneth remains not a male,
To bear the proud name of the Chief of Kintail.
We shall here close our sketch of him in the language of one whom we
have had occasion already to quote with considerable approbation : "It was
said of him by an acute observer and a leading wit of the age, the late
Honourable Henry Erskine, the Scotch Dean of Faculty, that ' Lord Sea-
forth's deafness was a merciful interposition to lower him to the ordinary
rate of capacity in society,' insinuating that otherwise his perception and
representing his native County in Parliament, died suddenly, and thus the prophecy of
Kenneth Oag was fulfilled.
Of the line of Fitzgerald remained not a male
To bear the proud name of the Chief of Kintail."
The late Robert Carruthers, LL.D., in the North British Ecview.
* For full details of this remarkable instance of family fate, see "The Prophecies
of the Brahau Seer."
170 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
intelligence would have been oppressive. And the aptness of the remark
was duly appreciated by all those who had the good fortune to be able to
form an estimate from personal observation, while, as a man of the world,
none was more capable of generalizing. Yet, as a countryman, he never
affected to disregard those local predilections which identified him with
the County of Ross, as the genuine representative of Kintail, possessing
an influence which, being freely ceded and supported, became paramount
and permanent in the County which he represented in the Commons
House of Parliament, till he was called to the peerage on the 26th October
1797, by the title of Lord Seaforth and Baron of Kintail, with limitation
to heirs male of his body, and which he presided over as his Majesty's
Lord-Lieutenant. He was commissioned, in 1793, to reorganise the 78th
or Ross-shire Regiment of Highlanders, which, for so many years, continued
to be almost exclusively composed of his countrymen. Nor did his ex-
traordinary qualifications and varied exertions escape the wide ranging eye
of the master genius of the age, who has also contributed, by a tributary
effusion, to transmit the unqualified veneration of our age to many that
are to follow. He has been duly recognised by Sir Walter Scott, nor
was he passed over in the earlier buddings of Mr Colin Mackenzie ; but
while the annalist is indebted to their just encomiums, he may be allowed
to respond to praise worthy of enthusiasm by a splendid fact which at
once exhibits a specimen of reckless imprudence joined to those qualities
which, by their popularity, attest their genuineness. Lord Seaforth for a
time became emulous of the society of the most accomplished Prince of
his age. The recreation of the Court was play ; the springs of this in-
dulgence then were not of the most delicate texture ; his faculties, pene-
trating as they were, had not the facility of detection which qualified him
for cautious circumspection ; he heedlessly ventured and lost. It was
then to cover his delinquencies elsewhere, he exposed to sale the estate of
Lochalsh ; and it was then he was bitterly taught to feel, when his people,
without an exception, addressed his Lordship this pithy remonstrance
'Reside amongst us and we shall pay your debts.' A variety of feelings
and facts, unconnected with a difference, might have interposed to counter-
act this display of devotedness besides ingratitude, but these habits, or
his Lordship's reluctance, rendered this expedient so hopeless that certain
of the descendants of the original proprietors of that valuable locality
were combining their respective finances to buy it in, when a sudden
announcement that it was sold under value, smothered their amiable en-
deavours. Kintail followed, with the fairest portion of Glenshiel, and
the Barony of Callan Fitzgerald ceased to exist to the mortification,
though not to the unpopularity of this still patriarchal nobleman among
his faithful tenantry and the old friends of his family."*
His Lordship married, on the 22d of April 1782, Mary Proby,
daughter of Baptist Proby, D.D., Dean of Lichfield, and brother of John,
first Lord Carysfort, by whom he had issue, a fine family of four sons and
six daughters, first, William Frederick, who died young, at Killearnan ;
second, George Leveson Boucherat, who died young at Urquhart ; third,
William Frederick, who represented the County of Ross in Parliament,
1812, and died at Warriston, near Edinburgh, in 1814 ; and fourth,
Francis John, a midshipman in the Royal Navy, died at Brahan, in 1813.
* Bennetsfield MS.
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 171
They all died unmarried. The daughters were, Mary Frederica Elizabeth,
who succeeded him ; second, Frances Catherine, died without issue ;
third, Caroline, accidentally killed at Brahan, unmarried ; fourth,
Charlotte Elizabeth, died unmarried ; fifth, Augusta Anne, died un-
married ; and sixth, Helen Ann, married the Eight Honourable Joshua
Henry Mackenzie of the Inverlael family, and anciently descended from
the Barons of Kintail, a Lord of Session and Justiciary, by the title of
Lord Mackenzie, with issue.
Lord Seaforth, Raving survived all his male issue, died on the llth
of January 1815, at Warriston, near Edinburgh, the last male represen-
tative of his race. His Lady outlived him, and died at Edinburgh on
the 27th February 1829. The estates, in virtue of an entail executed by
Lord Seaforth, with all their honours, duties, and embarrassments, de-
volved upon his eldest daughter, then a young widowed lady,
XXII. MARY ELIZABETH FREDERICA MACKENZIE, LADY HOOD, whom
Scott commemorated in the well-known lines.
And tkou, gentle dame, who must bear to thy grief,
For thy clan and thy country the cares of a Ckief,
Whom brief rolling moons, in six changes have left
Of thy husband, and father, and brethren bereft ;
To thine ear of affection how sad is the hail
That salutes thee the heir of the line of Kiiitail.
She was born at Tarradale, Ross-shire, on the 27th of March 1783, and
married at Barbadoes on the 6th of November 1804, Sir Samuel Hood,
afterwards KB., Vice-Admiral of the White, and, in 1806, M.P, for West-
minster. Sir Samuel died at Madras on the 24th December 1814, without
issue. Lady Hood then returned to Great Britain, and, in 1815, took pos-
session of the family estates, which had devolved upon her by the death of
her father without male issue, when, as we have seen, the titles became
extinct. She married, secondly, on the 21st of May 1817, The Right
Honourable James Alexander Stewart of Glasserton, a cadet of the
house of Galloway, who assumed the name of Mackenzie, was
returned M.P. for the County of Ross, held office under Earl Grey,
and was successively Governor of Ceylon, and Lord High Com-
missioner to the Ionian Islands. He died on the 24th of September
1843. Mrs Stewart-Mackenzie died at Brahan Castle, on the 28th of
November 1862, and was buried in the family vault in the Chanonry or
Cathedral of Fortrose. Her funeral was one of the largest ever witnessed
in the Highlands of Scotland, several thousands of persons being present
on foot, while the vehicles numbered over 150. By the second marri-
age she left issue Keith William Stewart-Mackenzie, now of Seaforth ;
Francis P. Proby, died without issue; George A. F. W., married a
daughter of General T. Marriott, and died in 1852 without issue; Mary
F., married The Honourable Philip Anstruther, with issue ; Caroline S.,
married J. B. Petre, and died in 1867; and Louisa C., who married William,
second Lord Ashburton, with issue one daughter. Mrs Stewart-Mac-
kenzie and her husband were succeeded by their eldest son,
XXIII. KEITH WILLIAM STEWART-MACKENZIE, now of Seaforth, late
Captain in the 90th Regiment of foot, and Colonel Commandant of the
Ross-shire Rifie Volunteers. He married first, Hannah, daughter of James
Joseph Hope-Vere of Craigiehall, with issue James Alexander Francis
172 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
Humberston Mackenzie, younger of Seaforth, a Captain, 9th Lancers;
Susan Mary, married the late Colonel John Constantino Stanley, second
son of Edward, Lord Stanley of Alderley, with issue, two daughters ;
Julia Charlotte S., married the late Arthur, 9th Marquis of Tweeddale ;
and Georgina H., who died young.
He married secondly, Alicia Almeira Bell, with issue, one daughter.
Having brought the history and genealogy of the ancient house of Kintail
and Seaforth down to the present time, we shall next consider the
question of the present CHIEFSHIP of the Clan, and give the genealogy
of Allangrange to date. We shall afterwards, as specimens, give that of
the House of Hilton the representative of which is senior cadet of the
Clan ; and a history and genealogy of the next in seniority, the family of
Gairloch, and its branches of Letterewe, Mountgerald, Belmaduthy, Port-
more, Lochend, Muirtou, Davochcairn, and Flowerbum.
THE HIGHLAND BKIDE.
To-iiight my boat shall leave the shore,
To night I'll bear my love away,
A chieftain's daughter I adore,
And feeble he who love would stay.
Tho' faint the moon, though dark the sky,
Tho' sullen sounds the rushing tide,
Yet bravely on my boat shall fly
To bear away my Highland bride.
We pledged our troth by Heav'ii above,
Then who shall scorn our mutual vow ?
A father's anger ripens love,
Yea, prompts my deed of daring now.
Not Duart's massive walls can keep
The prisoned maiden from my side ;
I'll o'er the wave-encircled deep,
And bear away my Highland bride.
Away ! away ! the boat fast sped,
Sunk far behind dark Morven's shore,
Love's eyes repelled the darkness dread,
Love's might impelled the yielding oar.
Lone Duart loomed ! far rose a flare
A maiden's eyes the signal spied,
A lover's heart and arms were there,
To bear away his Highland bride.
'Twas love's bright flash ! 'twas freedom's hope
Joy lit despair's sad solitude ;
Thro' tender hands swift flew the rope,
On sea- washed rocks a maiden stood.
My own ! rejoice ! I'm here ! I'm here !
No more we'll parted be, he cried.
To Morven, love, my boat I'll steer,
And bear away my Highland bride.
One kiss of love dispelled dismay,
His boat a willing maiden bore ;
Wild rushed the blast, high leapt the spray,
And dashed the waves with joyous roar.
Away, ye tempests, rudely blown I
Her sacred charm our course will guide ;
Blow on your glee ! she is my own !
I've dared ! and won my Highland bride.
HUNDEBLAND* WM. ALLAN,
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 173
THE GAELIC NAMES OF TREES, SHRUBS, PLANTS, &c.
By CHARLES FERGUSSON.
-o
| CONCLUDED. |
OAK. -Latin, Quercus robar ; Gaelic, Darach, This monarch of the
forest is certainly a native of the Highlands, though some writers, of the
class who grudge to see anything good either in the Highlands or in the
Highlanders, try to maintain that it was not anciently found north of
Perthshire. This, however, is clearly settled by the great quantity of
huge oak trees found embedded at great depths below the surface in peat
mosses all over the Highlands and Islands. All our earliest bards and
writers mention the oak, and Ossian, who is believed to have flour-
ished in the third century, sings of hoary oak trees dying of old age in his
day:
" Samhach 'us mor a bha 'n triath
Mar dharaig 's i liath air Lubar,
A chaill a dlu-gheug o shean
Le dealan glan nan speur ;
Tha 'h-aomadh thar sruth o shliabh,
A coinneach mar chiabh a fuaim."
" Silent and great was the prince,
Like an oak tree hoary, on Lubar,
Stripped of its thick and aged boughs
By the keen lightning of the skies ;
It bends across the stream from the hill ;
Its moss sounds in the wind like hair."
There are many huge oak trees in diiferent parts of the Highlands, which
are certainly several hundred years old, such as at Castle Menzies, where
there are oaks about 20 feet in circumference. Those trees must be very
old, as it is proved that the oak on an average grows only to about from
14 to 20 inches in diameter in 80 years. The wood of the oak, being
hard, strong, and durable, was used by the Highlanders for almost every
purpose possible from building their biiiinns and roofing their castles,
down to making a cudgel for the herdsman or shepherd, who believed the
old superstition that his flock would not thrive unless his .staff was of oak.
And after the Highlanders had laid aside their claymores, many an old
clan feud was kept up, and many a quarrel between the men of different
glens or clans was settled, by the end of a " cuileir math daraich." The
bark was of course much used for tanning leather, and also for dyeing a
brown colour, or, by adding copperas, a black colour. The veneration
which the Druids had for the oak is too well known to need mentioning
here ; and it seems also to have been the custom in early times to bury
the great heroes under aged oak trees, for the bard Ullin, who was some-
what prior to Ossian, says in " Dan an Deirg," singing of Cornhal,
Ossian's grandfather :
174 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
" Tha leaba fo chos nan clacli
Am fasgadh an daraig aosda."
" His bed is below the stones
Under the shade of the aged oak."
The Highlanders used a decoction of oak bark for stopping vomiting, and
they also believed that a decoction of the bark and acorns was the best
possible antidote for all kinds of poison or the bite of serpents. They also
believed that it was -the only tree for which a wedge of itself was the best
to split it, which gave rise to the old Gaelic proverb " Geinu dheth fein
a sgoilteas an darach " (" A wedge made of the self-same oak cleaves it.")
The Gaelic bard, Donnachadh Ban, refers to this belief in one of his
beautiful songs
" 'S chuala mi mar shean-fhacal
Mu'n darach, gur fiodh corr e,
'S gur geinn' dheth f hein 'ga theannachadh
A spealtadh e 'na ordaibh."
PINE (WEYMOUTH). Latin, Pi IMS Strobus ; Gaelic, Giutlias Sasunach.
This beautiful tree Avas first introduced from England to Dunkeld, where
the first trees of it were planted in 1725.
PLANE. Latin, Acer Pscudo-plantanus ; Gaelic, Pleintri. or Pluniirhm.
The first of these Gaelic names, which sounds so very like the English, is
given by Alex. Macdonald (Mac Mhaighstir Alastair) in his Gaelic
list of trees already referred to. The second is given by Lightfoot,
as the Gaelic name in use for this tree Avhen he travelled in the High-
lands in 1772. The plane is a native of the Highlands, where it grows
to an immense size, as may be seen by the following extract from the New
Statistical Account of the dimensions of plane trees growing at Castle
Menzies, parish of Weem " solid contents of a plane, 1132^ feet; ex-
treme height, 77 : girth at ground, 23; at four feet, 16. Of a second
plane, giith at four feet from ground, 18| feet ; and of a third at four
feet, 20J feet." The wood of this tree, which is white and soft, was
much used by the Highlanders for turning ; and Lightfoot mentions that
they made a very agreeable wino of the sap of the plane, as they did of
the birch and maple.
EASPBERRY, Latin, Rubus Idcaus ; Gaelic, Sulhag, or Saidheag. The
wild raspberry is one of our native wild fruits, and grows very commonly
all over the Highlands, where it also grows very well in a cultivated state
in gardens. The distilled juice of this fruit was once very much used by
the old Highlander in cases of fever, as it is veiy cooling. Lightfoot says
that the juice of this fruit was used in the Isle of Skye, when he was
there, as an agreeable acid for making punch instead of lemons.
KOWAN, or MOUNTAIN ASH. Latin, Pyrus Aucuparia; Gaelic, Cao-
runn. This beautiful and hardy tree is a native of the Highlands, where
the wood of it was once much used by wheelwrights and coopers;
but the great use the Highlanders made of the rowan tree, since the days
of the Druids, was for their superstitious charms against witchcraft. I
may give Lightfoot's account of what the Highlanders did with the rowan
in 1772 " The rowan-berries have an astringent quality, but in no hurt-
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 175
ful degree. In the island of Jura they use the juice of them as an acid
for punch ; and the Highlanders often eat them when thoroughly ripe,
and in some places distil a very good spirit from them. It is probable
that this tree was in high favour with the Druids, for it may to this day
be observed to grow, more frequently than any other tree, in the neigh-
bourhood of those Druidical circles of stones so often seen in North Bri-
tain ; and the superstitious still continue to retain a great veneration for
it, which was undoubtedly handed down to them from early antiquity.
They believe that any small part of this tree, carried about with them,
will prove a sovereign charm against all the dire effects of enchantment
or witchcraft. Their cattle also, as well as themselves, are supposed to
be preserved by it from evil, for the dairymaid will not forget to drive
them to the shealings or summer pastures with a rod of this tree, which
she carefully lays up over the door of the " sheal bothy," and drives them
home again with the same. In Strathspey they make, for the same pur-
pose, on the first day of May, a hoop of rowan wood, and in the morning
and evening cause all the sheep and lambs to pass through it."
WILLOW. Latin, Salix ; Gaelic, Seileach. Lightfoot mentions six-
teen, and Linnaeus twenty varieties of the willow, natives of the High-
lands, and many more have been discovered since their day. The willow
was a very valuable tree indeed for the old Highlanders, and they con-
verted it into almost endless purposes. The wood, which is soft and pli-
able, they used in many ways, and the young twigs, of course, for basket
work, and even ropes. The bark was used for tanning leather, and the
bark of most of the varieties was also used to dye a black colour, while
that of the white willow gave a dye of a cinnamon colour. The following
extract from " Walker's Hebrides " describes the uses made of the willow
in the Isles : " The willows in the Highlands even supply the place of
ropes. A traveller there has rode during the day with a bridle made of
them, and been at anchor in a vessel at night, whose tackle and cable
were made of twisted willows, and these, indeed, not of the best kind for
the purpose ; yet, in both cases, they were formed with a great deal of art
and industry, considering the materials. In the islands of Colonsay, Coll,
and Tyree, the people tan the hides of their black cattle with the bark of
the grey willow, and the barks of all the willows are capable of dyeing
black. The foliage of the willow is a most acceptable food for cattle, and
is accordingly browsed on with avidity both by black cattle and horses,
especially in autumn. In the Hebrides, where there is so great a scarcity
of everything of the tree kind, there is not a twig, even of the meanest
willow, but what is turned by the inhabitants to some useful purpose."
YEW. Latin, Taxus Baccata ; Gaelic, luthar. This valuable tree is
a native of the Highlands, where the remains of some very old woods of
it are to be found, as at Glenure, in Lorn, which takes its name
from the yew. There are also single trees of it of immense size, and of
unknown antiquity in the Highlands, such as the famous old yew in the
churchyard of Fortingall, in Perthshire, described by Pennant, as he saw
it in 1772. He gives the circumference of it as 56^ feet, and it was then
wasted away to the outside shell. Some writers calculate that this tree
must have taken 4000 years to grow that size ; it is impossible now to tell
its age with any certainty. But when we consider its immense size, and
176 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
the slow growing nature of the yew, it is certainly one of the oldest
vegetable relics in the world. When writing out this paper, I wrote to
the minister of Fortingall to enquire what state the old yew was in now,
and was glad to hear from that gentleman that part of it is still fresh, and
sprouting out anew, and likely to live a long time yet. We read of an-
other very large yew tree, which grew on a cliff by the sea side in the
island of Bernera, near the Sound of Mull, and which, when cut, loaded a
six-oared boat, and afforded timber enough, when cut up, to form a very fine
staircase in the house of Lochnell. The wood of the yew is very hard.
elastic, and beautifully veined, and was much prized by the old High-
landers for many purposes, but the great use to which they put it was to
make bows. So highly was the yew esteemed for this purpose that it
was reckoned a consecrated tree, and was planted in every churchyard so
as to afford a ready supply of bows at all times. And in fact, so com-
monly were the bows made of yew, that we find in Ossian and in the
early bards the bow always alluded to as " the yew," or " my yew," as in
" Dan an" Deirg," we have,
" Mar shaighead o ghlacaibh an iughair,
Bha chasan a' siubhal nam barra-thonn."
And also in Diarmaid, when that hero heard the sound of his comrades
hunting on Beinn Ghuilbeinn he could remain quiet no longer, but ex-
claimed
" A chraosnach dhearg ca bheil tliu 1
'S ca bheil m' iughar 's mo dhorlach ? "
Smith, in his " Sean Dana," in a note to " Dan an Deirg," says : Every-
body knows the bow to have been made of yew. Among the Highlanders
of later times, that which grew in the wood of Easragan, in Lorn, was
esteemed the best. The feathers most in vogue for the arrows were
furnished by the eagles of Loch Treig ; the wax for the string by Baile-
na-gailbhinn ; and the arrow-heads by the smiths of the race of Mac
Pheidearain. This piece of instruction, like all the other knowledge of
the Highlanders, was couched in verse
" Bogha dh' iughar Easragain,
Is ite firein Loch-a-Treig ;
Ceir bhuidhe Bhaile-iia-gailbhinn,
'S ceann o 'n cheard Mac Pheidearain."
That the Highlanders in the early days of Ossian used the yew for other
uses than making bows is proved by the passage in Fingal, describing
Cuchullin's war chariot
" 'Dh' iuthar faileasach an crann,
Suidhear arm air cnamhan caoin."
" Of shining yew is its pole ;
Of well-smothed bone the seat."
And that our ancestors, in the third century, overshaded their graves with
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 177
yew trees, as we do still, is proved by the passage in Fingal, where, after
Criinor and Cairbar fought for the white bull, when Crimor fell, and
Brasolis, Cair bar's sister, being in love with him, on hearing of his death,
rushed to the hill and died beside him, and yew trees shaded their graves
" Ehuail cridhe 'bu tla ri 'taobh,
Dh' f halbh a snuagti 'us bhris i tro' 'n fhraoch,
Fhuair i e marbh ; 'us dh' eug i 's an t-sliabh ;
'N so fein, a Chuchullin, tha 'n uir,
'S caoin iuthar 'tha 'fas o'n uaigh."
" Throbbed a tender heart against her side,
Her colour went ; and through the heath she rushed j
She found him dead ; she died upon the hill.
In this same spot, Cuchullin, is their dust,
And fresh the yew-tree grows upon their grave."
ARSSMART (SPOTTED). Latin, Polygonum persicaria ; Gaelic, Am
Boinne-fola. This is a very common plant in the glens and low grounds
of the Highlands. It is easily known by the red spot on the centre of
every leaf, about which the Highlanders have a curious old superstition,
viz. : That this plant grew at the foot of our Saviour's cross, and that a
drop of blood fell on each leaf, the stain of which it bears ever since. A
decoction of it was used with alum to dye a bright yellow colour.
BEAR-BERRY. Latin, Arlmlus uva-ursi ; Gaelic, Braoileagan-nan-con.
The berries of this plant are not eaten, but the old Highlanders used the
plant for tanning leather, and its leaves were used as a cure for the stone
or gravel. It is the badge of the Colquhouns.
BILBERRY, or BLAEBERRY. Latin, Vaccinium uliginosum ; Gaelic,
Lus-nan-dearcag, or Dearcag Monaidh. I need give no description of
this well-known plant, but may mention that its berries were used in
olden times for dyeing a violet or purple colour. Of this plant Lightfoot
says " The berries, when ripe, arc of a bluish black colour, but a singu-
lar variety, with white berries, was discovered by His Grace the Duke of
Athole, growing in the woods midway between his two seats of Blair
Athole and Dunkeld. [I may add that this is now known to be a dis-
tinct species the Vaccinium myrtillus fructu-albo of botanists.] The
berries have an astringent quality. In Arran and the Western Isles they
are given in cases of diarrhoea and dysentery with good effect. The High-
landers frequently eat them in milk, which is a cooling, agreeable food,
and sometimes they make them into tarts and jellies, which they mix
with whisky, to give it a relish to strangers." The blaeberry is the badge
of the Buchanans.
BIRD'S-FOOT TREFOIL. Latin, ' Lotus corniculatus ; Gaelic, Bar-a'-
mliilsein. This beautiful bright yellow ilower grows all over the High-
lands. It is very much relished by sheep and cattle as food, and was
used by our ancestors for dyeing yellow.
COLT'S-FOOT (COMMON). Latin, Tassilago farfara ; Gaelic, A n r/allan
gainmlnch ; 1 Ohlitas-Liath. This plant, with its broad greyish leaves,
gi-ows very common in the Highlands, by the side of streams, and in
boggy places. A decoction of it was used for bad coughs or sore breasts.
o
178 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
CROTAL, or LICHEN (PURPLE DYERS). Latin, Lichen emplialodes ;
Gaelic, Crotal. This small plant, which grows all over stones and old
dykes in the Highlands, is still very much used by Highlanders for dyeing
a reddish brown colour. It was formerly much more used, particularly
for dyeing yarn for making hose, and so much did the Highlanders be-
lieve in the virtues of the crotal that, Avhen they were to start on a long
journey, they sprinkled some of the crotal, reduced to a powder, on the
soles of their hose, as it saved their feet from getting inflamed with the
heat when travelling far.
ELECAMPANE. Latin, Inula helemum ; Gaelic, Aillcann. This is one
of the largest of our herbaceous plants, as it grows to the height of several
feet. It gives a very bright blue colour, and it was much used for such
by the Highlanders, who added some whortle berries to it to improve the
colour.
HEATHER. Latin, Erica cinerea ; Gaelic, Fraocli. The heather, the
badge of the Clan Donald, needs no description, but I may give Light-
foot's account of what the Highlander made of it in his day : " The
heather is applied to many economical uses by the Highlanders. They
frequently cover their houses with it instead of thatch, or else twist it
into ropes and bind down the thatch with them in a kind of lattice work ;
in most of the Western Isles they dye their yarn of a yellow colour, by
boiling it in water with the green tops and flowers of this plant. In Hum,
Skye, and the Long Island, they frequently tan their leather with a
strong decoction of it. Formerly the young tops of it are said to have
been used alone to brew a kind of ale, and even now, I was informed
(1772), that the inhabitants of Isla and Jura still continue to brew a very
potable liquor by mixing two-thirds of the tops with one-third of malt.
This is not the only refreshment that the heather affords. The hardy
Highlanders frequently make their beds with it, laying the roots down-
wards and the tops upwards, which, though not quite so soft and luxuri-
ous as beds of down, are altogether as refreshing to those who sleep on
them, and perhaps much more healthy."
HONEYSUCKLE (DWARF). Latin, Cornus succica ; Gaelic, Lus-a'-
chraois. This elegant little plant grows very common in Athole, and, I
believe, in many parts of the Northern Highlands, especially Lochbroorn.
It has a white flower, followed by red berries, which have a sweet taste.
The old Highlanders believed that if those berries were eaten they gave
an extraordinary appetite, from which it took its Gaelic name, which. I
find in an old work translated " Plant of Gluttony."
LADIES' MANTLE. Latin, Alcliemilla vulgaris ; Gaelic, Copan-an-
driuchd, or Cota-preasacli nigluan an High. This pretty little plant grows
in dry pastures and on hill-sides all over the country, and there are end-
less superstitions connected with it, and virtues ascribed to it by the
Highlanders, which, if the half only were true, would make it one of the
most valuable plants growing. Both its Gaelic names are very descriptive
of the leaf of the plant, the first " Cup of the dew," refers to the cup-
shaped leaf in which the dew lies in large drops every morning ; and the
second "The king's daughter's plaited petticoat," refers to the well-
known likeness of the leaf, when turned upside down, to a plaited petti-
coat, which might indeed be a pattern for a king' daughter.
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 179
MOTHER OF THYME. Latin, Thynws serpyllum ; Gaelic, Lus Mac-
Righ-Bhreatuinn. This sweet-scented little plant was believed by the
Highlanders to be a preventive or cure for people troubled with disagree-
able dreams or the nightmare, by using an infusion of it like tea.
MUGWORT. Latin, Artemisia vulgar is ; Gaelic, An Liath-lus. Till
very lately, or perhaps yet, in some of the out-of-the-way glens, this plant
was very much used by the Highlanders as a pot herb, as also was the
young shoots of the nettle, just as they use kale or cabbage now.
SHEPHERD'S PURSE. Latin, Ihlaspi Bursa-pastoris ; Gaelic, Sporan-
buachaill. This plant is still very much used in the Highlands for
applying to cuts or wounds to stop the bleeding, and it was much more
so in olden times, when such were more common.
SEA WARE. Latin, Fucus Vesiculosus ; Gaelic, Feamuinn. This
plant is very much used still in the maritime parts of the Highlands in
many ways. It makes an excellent manure for the land, and in some of
the isles it forms part of the winter fodder of cattle, and even deer in hard
winters sometimes feed on it, at the recess of the tide. Lightfoot says that
in Jura, and some of the other isles, the inhabitants used to salt their
cheeses by covering them with the ashes of this plant, which abounds
with salt. But the great use of the sea ware was for making kelp, which
used to be very much made in the Isles, and in fact gave employment to
the most of the inhabitants there. The way in which it was made was :
The sea ware was collected and dried, then a pit about six feet wide
and three deep was dug, and lined with stones, in which a small fire was
lighted with sticks, arid the dried plant laid on by degrees and burnt,
when it was nearly reduced to ashes the workman stirred it with an iron
rake till it began to congeal, when it was left to cool, after which it Avas
broken up and sent to the market. The average price of kelp in the Isles
was about 3 10s per ton, but when extra care was taken, and skill
shown in the preparation of it, it was worth more.
SILVER WEED, or WILD TANSY. Latin, Potentilla Anserina ; Gaelic,
Bar-a'-bhrisgein. Of this plant Lightfoot says: "The roots taste like
parsnips, and are frequently eaten by the common people either boiled or
roasted. In the islands of Tyree and Coll they are much esteemed as
answering the purposes of bread in some measure, they having been known
to have supported the inhabitants for months together during scarcity of
other provisions. They put a yoke on their ploughs and often tear up
their pasture grounds with a view to eradicate the roots for their use, and
as they abound most in barren and impoverished soils, and in seasons that
succeed the worst for other crops, so they never fail to afford the most
seasonable relief to the inhabitants in times of the greatest scarcity. A
singular instance this of the bounty of Providence to those islands."
TORMENTIL. Latin, Torment ilia Erecta; Gaelic, Bar-lhraonan-nan-con.
This little plant may be said to grow almost everywhere in the Highlands,
where it was once much used for tanning leather, for which purpose it is
far superior even to oak bark. We read that in Coll the inhabitants
turned over so much of the pasture to procure the roots of this plant that
they were forbidden to use it at all by the laird.
ST JOHN'S WORT. Latin, Hypericum Perforatum ; Gaelic, Achlasan
Challum-Chitte. The old Highlanders ascribed many virtues to this well-
180 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
known plant, and used it in many ways. Boiled with alum in water it
was used to dye yarn yellow, and the flowers put in whisky gave it a
dark purple tinge, almost like port wine. Superstitious Highlanders
always carried about a part of this plant with them to protect them from
the evil effects of witchcraft. They also believed that it improved the
quality and increased the quantity of their cows' milk, especially if the
cows were under the evil effects of witchcraft, by putting this plant into
the pail with some milk, and then milking afresh on it. Another Gaelic
term for this herb is an galbhuidhe, and is thus alluded to in " Miami a'
Bhaird Aosda" :
" Biodh sobhrach bhan a's aillidh snuadh
Mu'n cuairt do m' tlmlaich 's uain' fo dhriuchd,
'S an neoinean beag 's mo lamb, air cluain
'S an ealbhuidh' aig mo chluais gu h-ur."
VIOLET (SWEET). Latin, Viola Oder at a ; Gaelic, &ail-chuaich. This
fragrant little flower grows all over the Highlands, and it was much used-
by the Highland ladies formerly, according to the following directions :
" Sail-chuach 's bainno ghabhar,
Suadh ri t' aghaidh ;
'S cha'n eil mac Righ ar an domhain
K"ach bi air do dheidh."
(" The violet and milk of goat
Rub to thy face,
And not a king's son throughout the globe
But will thee race.")
WHORTLE-BERRY. Latin, Vaccinium vitis-idcea ; Gaelic, Lasnain-
braoileag. This plant, known to every Highlander, grows on the hills all
over the Highlands. The berries were much used by our ancestors as a
fruit, and in cases of fever they made a cooling drink of them to quench
the thirst. This is the true badge of the Clan Chattan.
WOOD PEASE. Latin, Orobus t tiler osus ; Gaelic, Cor, Cor-mctlle, or
Peasar-nan-Lucli. The roots of this plant was very much prized by the
old Highlanders, as they are yet by most Highland herds or school boys.
They used to dig them up and dry them and chew them like tobacco, and
sometimes added them to their liquor to give it a strong flavour. They
also use it on long journeys, as it keeps both hunger and thirst away for
a long time ; and in times of scarcity it has been used as a substitute for
bread.
YARROW, or MILFOIL. Latin, AcliiUea niillifolium ; Gaelic, A' chait-
hir-thalmhain. This plant, so well-known to every old Highland house-
wife, was reckoned the best of all known herbs for stopping the bleeding
of cuts or wounds, and for healing them, and it is even yet made into an
ointment in some out of the way glens in summer, that it may be at hand
in winter, when the plant cannot be procured. They also believed that
it was the best cure for a headache to thrust a leaf of this plant up the
nostrils till the nose bled.
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 181
CAPTAIN ERASER OF KNOCKIE'S AIRS AND MELODIES
OF THE HIGHLANDS.
THE following letters one from Sir Walter Scott, addressed to Captain
Eraser, and hitherto unpublished, and the other from Mr Thomson, Edin-
burgh, will, we doubt not, be read with some curiosity. For these
interesting documents we are indebted to Mr John Noble, bookseller,
Inverness, who found them among some of Captain Eraser's papers which
came into his possession :
(Letter from Sir Walter Scott.)
" DEAR SIR, The pressure of business attending my office at the end
of the Session, rendered harder by the indisposition of three of my col-
leagues, has prevented my acknowledging your various communications
until I should have time to write at full length.
" The plan you propose of having your work presented to the King
by the Duke of Buccleuch is totally impossible, because the Duke is a
minor, a student at Cambridge, and does not attend Court, or take upon
him the exercise of his rank and privileges. f His uncle would not
approve of his assuming any premature step of this kind, nor would it be
consistent with etiquette. The customary way is to make such request
through the Secretary of State, or King's Private Secretary. But there
can be no doubt that if Lord Huntly inclined to take the trouble it could
not be in better or more appropriate hands.
" Respecting the prospectus itself, I am obliged in candour to state
that it contains too many subjects of a nature totally unconnected and
even discrepant to entertain any hope that it will be popular in its present
shape. The mingling of statistics with antiquities may be natural enough,
but do let us have the music, with the musical anecdotes and historical
circumstances allied, separated from and independent of other matter.
" Respecting general points, you may rely upon it that by mixing
many subjects together you will greatly injure the popularity of the work,
whereas if you give us the music and its history alone, you can at your
leisure prepare and publish your tracts upon the other subjects announced
in your prospectus. I am under the necessity of adding that controversial
matters, and such as relate to men's private history and private affairs,
do not enter with propriety into books which, are to be addressed to the
Sovereign. It is also matter of etiquette that the dedication should only
be an inscription, it not being held respectful to deliver to the King,
either in speech or in print, a long discourse. Mention, therefore, of
private misfortunes and injuries would be improper in such a work, and
the omission of these would be of the less consequence ; although they are
what is necessarily most interesting to the writer, it is very difficult to put
them into such a shape as can anywise interest the public.
" I am afraid you will consider this advice of mine very intrusive, but
you asked to have my opinion, and I must give it with sincerity. I have
never known a book well received which involved too many subjects uncon-
nected with each other, and with your skill, taste, and musical know-
ledge, you should certainly make the music your first object, laying aside
182
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
everything that is not naturally connected with it. Besides, the swelling
out your work with miscellaneous matter unconnected with the principal
subject, will be attended with much expense, and, in proportion, diminish
the author's profits.
" I have received safely the two Gaelic manuscripts, which are to me,
however, a fountain sealed and a book shut, notwithstanding the ancient
Gaelic. I should like to see some of the contents literally translated, but
being of such recent date, I am afraid you will hardly be able to bring
the contents to bear on the Ossianic controversy. I will keep the manu-
script with great care at your disposal. I have endeavoured to express
my opinion respecting the work to Lady Huntly, with whom I had the
honour of corresponding about something else. I have the honour to be,
Dear Sir, your obedient servant,
(Signed) " WALTER SCOTT.
"Edinburgh, 12th March 1825.
" My address for some time hence will be Abbotsford, Melrose."
(Letter from John Thomson, Esq., Edinburgh.)
" MY DEAR SIR, I presume you have received a letter which I wrote
about ten days since, and entrusted to Mr Paul's care to be conveyed to
you. I have since received your parcel, but the gentleman who handed
it in having left no address, I must trust to his calling for this answer
before he leaves town.
" Having carefully examined the airs you have sent me, I must frankly
confess that they have disappointed me, with one or two exceptions.
They are almost all too florid for national melodies, and in many cases
they are not at all characteristic, i.e., they have not the peculiar Highland
accent which would stamp them as real national Highland airs. It is
one thing to have melodies composed by a Highlander, and quite another
to have Highland melodies, for in the former case the airs may have no
distinctive features at all, while in the other the distinctive feature is
absolutely necessary. My own compositions are not necessarily Scotch,
because I am a Scotchman, and so of the Highland melodies you have
sent me, the following bar
in the ' Fall of
Foyers ' is common to every species of melody except national, and the
conclusion
93
is even more objectionable.
Observe what a contrast is ' He is gone to the mountain,' and the ' Cow-
boy.' The three last bars of the dirge are inadmissable in a national
melody, nay, the character of the air is violated by such florid passages.
In 'Ye lovely blossoms,'
such passages as
are not Highland,
and
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 183
" Thus, then, I would class them :
" 1st, Good and genuine ' The Fiery Cross ' ; '0 ! Mourn the Chief' ;
' The crazed and captive'; 'The lonely Isle'; 'The Cowboy'; 'He is
gone to the mountain ' ; ' Come, let us to Killin ' ; ' Dear Albyn.'
" 2d, Requiring to be simplified, but good also ' Dear Maid ' ;
' Dirge ' ; ' Ye lovely blossoms ' ; ' can you love me ? '
"3d, Not characteristic 'When Abercrombie ' too Irish, and like
the ' Eose Tree ' ; ' The Fall of Foyers 'too English ; ' The heath this
night ' ; ' The Maid of Killing too Irish.
" 4th, Indifferent ' The Poet's Grave ' ; ' Bird of the Wilderness.'
" But in calling the two first classes good, I do not mean to imply that
they are by any means what I expected in Highland melodies.
" Those which I have heard Mrs Macleod of Macleod, senior, sing
were wild and plaintive in a remai-kable degree, totally unlike other music.
They were sung with Gaelic words, and the effect was striking.
" Such are the kind of Highland melodies I had in my mind when I
expressed myself to you so warmly in admiration of them. The accom-
paniments, I am sorry to say, will not do besides being too incorrect for
publication, they want character, and are greatly overloaded with notes.
Should this, however, not appear to you and your friends a sufficiently
strong objection to their retention, I must be relieved from all responsi-
bility of superintendence which could for a moment imply my sanction.
" Would it not be better at once to apply to Mr FinLiy Dun to arrange
the whole, which I daresay he would undertake, commencing immediately,
for, as I have already told you, it is impossible for me until after this
time next winter and I cannot think of sanctioning the appearance of
any number of the work unless the arrangements are entirely remodelled.
"It is better to tell you the real truth now, that there may be no
future misapprehension on the subject. Yours truly,
(Signed) " JOHN THOMSON.
"Edin., 5th November 1839."
EWEN MORRISON'S RAID ON HARRIS.
THE traditional account of the origin of the Morrisons is as follows :
They are, according to some, descended from one Mary, but who this
Mary was they do not say ; by others that they sprung from Morus, son
of Kinaunus, natural son of one of the Kings of Norway. The Seanachies
of the Western Isles emphatically assert that they are descended from
Muire, Aulay Macaulay's sister ; that she and her brother being invited
by Liot, or Macleod, she either accompanied or followed the latter to
Lews, where she married, ultimately settled at Ness, and became
the mother of one son and several daughters. Whether Muire, Moire,
Marion, or Muriel, whichever is the correct name, was married to a native
of the Long Island, of Skye, of the Mainland, or to a Norwegian, it is im-
possible to say, but it is evident that the son's designation was from the
mother for he was called "Gille Mhuire," a designation which,
in course of usage, assumed its present form, " na Moireasonich," or Mor-
risons, though they are sometimes called " Clann Mac Gille Mhaithrail,"
184 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
One early summer morning in the fourteenth century, a large band
of tlio Morrisons of Ness, under the command of their Chief, " Eoghamn
Mac Gillc Maithrail," attacked the Macaulays of Uig, killing many of
them, and carrying away much spoil, and then proceeded southward
to ravage the Island of Harris. They arrived at the township of Husli-
inish, a little after daybreak. The hamlet was still and quiet, none of
its inhabitants being yet astir, with the exception of a boat-builder and
his two sons, who were busily engaged on a boat they were building, and
which had to be ready by a certain day.
They were thus up betimes on the morning in question, busily pro-
secuting their calling at the north end of the hamlet, when, unfortunately
for them, they were observed by the Morrisons advancing in their direc-
tion, though yet some distance away. They approached the boat-builders
cautiously ; and the first notice the elder received of their approach was
the appalling sight of his murdered sons lying dead at his side, the
Morrisons having shot them down with a volley of barbed arrows. The
unhappy man was so suddenly, and in such a terrible manner, made aware
of his situation that he scarcely knew what to do. To defend himself
against such preponderating odds he knew to be impossible. Acting on
the impulse of the moment, he took to flight, ran for his life in the direc-
tion of the sea-shore, hotly pursued by the Morrisons, shooting their
arrows after him in such rapid succession, that they fell around him thick
as hail. He, however, managed to escape scatheless ; by almost super-
natural strength and swiftness, he reached the sea, at a spot near which
was the entrance to the cave known as Geo Mor Fladail, and of the ex-
istence of which the Morrisons were ignorant. He leaped at once into
the foaming sea, and swam into the cave. Though there is a beach of
considerable size within the cave, nearly a quarter of a mile in length, its
entrance, from which the sea never recedes, is so small that it cannot be
seen from the top of the perpendicular rock which towers above it No
sooner therefore, did the carpenter disappear in the sea than the
Morrisons thought him drowned, and that their arrival in Harris would
be still unknown to the inhabitants, Avhom they intended to spoil, and
slaughter in cold blood. Under this impression they returned to Hush-
inish, and massacred its inhabitants to a man, after which they attacked
the adjacent townships, and annihilated the people in the same remorse-
less manner.
The boat-builder, meantime, left the cave, and finding a boat, keel
upwards, about high-water mark, he launched it, and placing the dead
bodies of his sons on board, proceeded to the Island of Berneray, in the
sound of Harris, a distance of some thirty miles. Arriving there he in-
formed Macleod, the Chief of that island, of what had taken place at
Hushiuish, at the same time showing him the dead bodies of his sons.
Macleod lost no time in raising the war-cry, to which a hearty response
was given ; and in 'a short time Macleod and his hardy followers were
sailing for the mainland of Harris to oppose the murderous progress of
their enemies. The plunderers had, meantime, attacked Bunamhaiueder,
Ardhasaig, Leachdin, Tarbert, Diraclite, and Luskintyre. They then
crossed to the island of Tarusay, plundering and slaughtering indiscri-
minately, male and female, as they went.
It was only on his arrival at Tarbert that Macleod and his followers
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 185
learned that the Morrisons had crossed over to Tarnsay, but no sooner
did they make this discovery than they directed their course to that
island. Berneray, as we shall continue to call Macleod, landed at a place
on the island then nameless, but which, since, has been called
Rudha Chinnigir, or Victor's Point. Arriving at the village of Tarnsay,
Berneray found the Morrisons regaling themselves after having massacred
every soul on the island, and listening for a moment at the window of
the house in which they were feasting, he heard one of them remark that
something very wonderful was wrong with him, "For," said he, " although
I can chew my food as well as ever, I cannot swallow anything." " And
that is a great pity," said Berneray load enough to be heard by the
revellers, " for soon you will neither be able to chew or swallow." In
a second 'the speaker inside was a corpse by Berneray's well-directed
arrow, shot in through the window. This was the common signal for a
general attack, but though the Harrismen urged their leader to allow them
enter the building, and extinguish the Morrisons before they could defend
themselves, Berneray would give no such permission. " Allow the
savages," he said, " to come outside ; give them a chance to fight for their
lives." The Harrismen had not long to wait, for they had scarcely taken
up their position when they were furiously attacked by the Morrisons.
Berneray led, and was the first to strike a terrible blow, "which fell
with both skill and might, at the enemy, for two Morrisons fell lifeless
as soon as they appeared outside. A dreadful hand-to-hand fight com-
menced, and the carnage was truly horrible. Heads were lopped off, and
cloven in dozens. The Morrisons for a short time fought bravely enough,
but they were at length compelled to give way before the terrible on-
slaught of Berneray and his followers, whose every blow told with mortal
effect, and finding that their case was desperate, the Morrisons retreated,
shouting at the top of their voices, " Gu sgeir, gu sgeir, a bhallachaibh
Leodhais " (To the rock, to the rock, ye lads of Lews). The rock was a
small one in the vicinity of the place where the fight took place, and al-
though it can be reached dry-shod at low water, the sea surrounded it at
full flood. To this rock the Morrisons fled for safety ; but being closely
followed by Berneray and his men, it soon proved a place of poor refuge
for the now miserable wretches, for on it Berneray made terrible havoc,
having, with one solitary exception, slain the whole gang. The rock
received that day the name of the Sgeir bhuailte, or Smitten rock, which
it bears to the present time, and when any great disturbance of the sands
takes place by the storm, large numbers of men's bones may yet be seen
around the Smitten rock.
The solitary Morrison Avho escaped with his life was " Eoghainn Mac
Gille Mhaithrail" himself which he did by jumping into the sea,
and swimming across the sound to the mainland of Harris. He landed
at a rock on Traigli 2'horgobosd, or the shore of Torgobost, which rock
has been called " Sgeir Eoghainn," or Ewen's Rock, ever since. Though
Eoghainn managed to escape with his life, he carried with him fearful
marks of the terrible combat, having no less than nine arrows deeply
embedded in his back and thighs, the wounds of which he bore during the
remainder of his life.
Eoghairm Mac Gille Mhaithrail must have been possessed of prodigious
186 THE CELTIC MAGAZI^ I :.
strcngth,otherwise lie could neverhave accomplished the feat above described
fight so bravely for his . life at Tarnsay, and afterwards swim across a
sound fully two miles in breadth, while his flesh was literally torn by
arrows and swords, and nine of the former sticking in his body.
A lew years after these events occurred, a Harrisman, called Iain Mac
Dhomhnuill Mhic Aonghais, or John, son of Donald son of Angus, a
native of Berneray, went to the Lews to buy horses. He arrived at the
parish of Ness about sunset ; and, approaching a township, he met a man
pulling heather, who had just finished his day's work, and was putting on
his long woollen vest before starting home, when Iain came up to him.
After the usual salutations and questionings, the stranger was invited to
share the usual hospitality and shelter for the night ; an invitation which
was readily accepted. After the other members of the family had retired
for the night, the host and the stranger sat beside the fire for some time,
relating stories of the olden times to one another. The host at length
remarked that it was a custom in the Lews, before retiring for the night,
to make a " Garradh cul has," or warm their loins before the fire.
Suiting the action to the words, he turned his back to the fire, and raising
his feille a loose sort of garment shaped more like a female's petticoat than
the modern kilt began to warm himself. Neither kilts of the present
style nor trousers were in use in Lews in those clays. Iain noticed that
the man's loins had been at one time subjected to a dreadful laceration,
and remarked
"It was not at the fireside that you got these marks, my friend."
"Bu dhian do dha laimh ga 'n cur ann," or diligent were both thy
hands inflicting them, answered the host gravely.
" This is not a time to remember bad deeds," rejoined the other.
" Nor am I going to do so ; if you had not treated me so I would
assuredly have served you as you did me."
The reader would have already corrrectly surmised that Iain's host
was none other than Eoghainn Mac Gille Mhaithrail, the hero of Sgeir
Eoghainn, and on discovering who his entertainer was, Iain became
doubtful as to his personal safety ; but Eoghainn, noticing his agitated
state, assured him that he had heartily forgiven him for the past, and that
he was not only free from danger in his house, but that he would have
full protection from himself while in the Lews.
With this assurance Iain retired to bed, and slept as sound as ever
he did in his life. In the morning he was served with the best breakfast
that Eoghainn's press could afford. Before leaving, the latter requested
John to accompany him to the stable to see a pair of beautiful black
horses which he had just put in. lain went, and admiring the horses,
said, " They are a splendid pair, indeed. It is not in every man's stable
the like of them could be seen." " I hope then," said Eoghainn, " that
you will be pleased to accept them as an acknowledgment from me, in
return for the chastisement you gave me at Tarnsay, for ever since that
day I have not followed the life of a raider." Iain, it need hardly be
said, accepted the horses with many acknowledgments and thanks.
The island of Tarnsay, and the other portions of Harris plundered by
the Morrisons, were pleasant and fertile places; were soon again peopled ;
and were in a few years as nourishing and populous as ever.
MAO IAIN,
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 187
GENEALOGICAL NOTES AND QUERIES.
THE following queries indicate how this new feature of the Celtic Magazine is likely to
be appreciated. We respectfully request our friends, learned in such matters, to aid us
and those requiring information by answering such queries as may fiom time to time be
put in this department. To secure insertion, contributions must reach us in every case
not later than the 15th of each month before publication. Parties will please to be as
concise and exact in both queries and answers as possible. In all cases the full name
and address must be sent us in confidence, where contributors do not wish their names
to appear.
DUNBAR. Sir, Finding by a note in your last issue that you propose opening a
Note and Query column in your Magazine, I ask permission through that medium about
some Dunbars whoso genealogies I am anxious to ascertain. James Dunbar, merchant,
burgess of Inverness, was dead ante 1655, and was when in the flesh immediate elder
brother to Alexander Dunbar of Balmuckitie, merchant, burgess, and Provost of Inver-
ness. James left two daughters, Christian m. Kobert Barlow of Mulderge, and Janet m.
another James Duubar. Janet and James had a son. Alexander, who in later years was
styled ot Balmuckitie, owning it by disposition from Alexander the said Provost.
Were Alexander, the Provost, and James his brother descended from Mr Thomas Dun-
bar, Dean of Moray, and Mr Alexander, also Dean of Moray, his eldest son, who had
charters of Balmuckitie in 1607, and if so, how did the younger brother own it? Who
also was the elder James's spouse, and of what family was the younger James? -I am,
yours, &c., F. MEDENHAM.
THE CHIEF OP THE MACKENZIES. I am glad to see that you are going to open the
pages of your Magazine for the purpose of obtaining information regarding the genea-
logies of our Highland families. Can you, who are so well informed on all questions
affecting the Clan Mackenzie, inform me if Allangrange is really the undoubted Chief of
the ClaB ? Who composed the jury tkat voted him Chief at Tain in 1829? The Chief-
ship was claimed at the same time by the late Captain William Mackenzie of Gruinard,
and some years before by a Captain Murdo Mackenzie, of London. What relationship
to Seaforth were these claims founded upon, and how were they disposed of ? If Allan-
grange is really Chief, failing his succession, who would, in that case, be Chief of the
Clan ? These are important questions to
London. A CABAB.
GRIZELL URQUHART AND ISABELLA MACLEOD. Sought ; the further history of two
ladies named G-rizell Urquhart and Isabella Macleod. The former was sole surviving
child of Colonel James Urquhart, the last direct representative of the Urquharts of
Cromarty. He died in 1741 so said and was buried on 2d of January of that year.
She is said by the Baronage to have died unmarried. The latter. Isabella, was the
eldest daughter of Korie Macleod of Cambuscurrie, in Ross-shire. He married in 1686,
and she is said by the Baronage to have been "honorably married." Elsewhere they
are both said to have been married to husbands, named Ros, Rose, Ross, or Rosse. Any
light into this Scotch mist will oblige, K.RUKS.
THE CHIEF OF THE MATHESONS. Who is the present Chief of the Mathesons.of
Lochalsh? It is understood that Alexander Matheson of Ardross and Lochalsh, M.P.,
does net claim that distinction. Is this the case ? Was the late Sir James Matheson of
the Lews, as said by some, Chief of the Mathesons of Sutherland ? Who is the present
Chief ? MATHON.
THE CUTHBERTS OF INVERNESS. Can any of your readers tell me if any representa-
tives of this old family are still in existence, and, if so, what position they occupy ? I
find members of the family were married into nearly all the leading families in the
Highlands, and in this way, about two hundred years ago, Cuthbert blood came into my
own family. I am thus anxious to learn all I can about the Cuthberts of Castlehill,
Inverness.
Leeds. ANGLO CELT.
HISTORY OF THE CAMERONS. Can you or any of your readers inform me if there is
any unpublished MS. History of this Clan or any other documents which would throw
light on its origin and early annals. ANTIQUARIAN.
THE ORIGINAL MACKENZIES OF SAND. Who was spoken of as " Sand " (Gairloch)
about the year 1743 ? In an old business book, goods are frequently invoiced to " Sand,"
or to be placed to " Sand's account." The enquirer would be glad to learn by whom he
was represented at his death. M.M.C.
HOSSACK. To whom was Katharine, daughter of ProTost John Hossack, of Inver-
ness, married in 1745 ? and who was the father of her husband ?
Moorside, Chester.
188 THE CELTIC MAGAZINK.
THE "EDUCATIONAL NEWS" ON TEACHING GAELIC
IN HIGHLAND SCHOOLS.
NOTHING could better show the great progress which common sense is making
on this question than a leading article which appeared in a recent issue of
the Educational News on Mr Jolly's report to the Education Department.
Though it is uncommonly like what we have ourselves repeatedly said on
the same subject, it is such a sign of the times, coming from such a
quarter as the organ of the Educational Institute of Scotland, that, with
no little pleasure, we reproduce it in these pages. For the great change
of opinion in educational circles on this all-important question to High-
landers, we are greatly indebted to Mr Jolly, H.M.I.S., who, though not
a Highlander himself, seems to be getting, the more he becomes acquainted
with the country and its requirements, more Celtic in spirit than the
Highlanders themselves ; and his last and best report was so thoroughly
practical and sensible as apparently to revolutionize educational opinion in
favour of the Highlands. The News says :
In a large number of Highland parishes, Gaelic is the vernacular tongue of the
people. The younger children are acquainted with Gaelic, and with Gaelic alone.
English is, in their own phrase, "the other language," of which they profess no know-
ledge. We are not to discuss here the merits of the Gaelic language, nor the question
whether its continuance as a living, spoken language should be fostered and encouraged.
These questions lie outside the scope of our present purpose. That Gaelic has a litera-
ture of its own, a literature "varied, abundant, and powerful, full of fine sentiment,
pleasant humour, lyrical beauty, deep feeling, practical wisdom, and natural life," no
one will deny. How far the continuance of Gaelic as a spoken language hinders the de-
velopment of the Celt, and operates as a barrier to success in life, is an open question,
the discussion of which may be safely left in the hands of such champions as Professor
Blackie. What we have to deal with is a practical question of pressing importance the
question, as Mr Jolly well says, " of the right use in schools of the daily language of
300,000 of our people." We cannot give this question the go-by. It must be faced and
solved ; and the sooner it is manfully faced, the sooner shall we arrive at a solutUn.
It is to betray the grossest ignorance of all true education to say that wo ought to
ignore Gaelic, and teach every child English from the very beginning. We cannot do this
even if we would, and we should not do it even if we could. The child thinks in Gaelic,
speaks in Gaelic all its associations are suggested by Gaelic, and English is as much a
foreign tongue as Greek or Hebrew. It is utterly impossible to teach there Highland
children except through the medium of their own tongue. We fancy this is HOW gene-
rally admitted ; and certain homeopathic concessions in the Code would seem to indicate
that the fact has penetrated into the recesses of the Department. We would refer our
readers to Mr Jolly's remarks on this point, all of which are sensible and judicious.
But it is equally patent that, if the scholars are to be taught through the medium
of Gaelic, the teacher must be acquainted with that language ; and here we are brought
face to face with a difficulty which, at this moment, is engaging the anxious considera-
tion of all who are interested in the education of the Highlands aud Islands. How are
Gaelic speaking teachers to be obtained? The supply already falls far short of the de-
mand ; and our own advertising columns bear striking testimony to this, containing, as
Ihey have done for some mouths past, continuous advertisements for teachers in some of
the Islands, the repetition of which shows the difficulty of securing, we shall not say
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 189
high-class men, but men of any sort. And, in this respect, we are not sure whether tha
state of matters that existed previous to the passing of the Act of 1872 was not better
than that which now exists. Previous to that time, a Certificated Teacher was not
essential in every Public School. No school could obtain grants, unless the teacher were
certificated ; but, in many cases, school managers were content to secure the services of
a fair Gaelic speaking teacher, and forego the grants, rather than be compelled to shut
their school altogether. Now, however, the requirement of a certificate is obligatory ;
and the number of Gaelic speaking certificated teachers is growing rapidly and ominously
less. From pretty accurate information, which we have been enabled to collect, we
have come to the conclusion that, unless some remedy be speedily applied, Gaelic-speak-
ing teachers will become extinct. This does not arise, in any degree, from any unwilling-
ness on the part of the Highland youth to adopt the profession of teaching. Naturally
they are fond of it. They see in it a means of raising themselves in the social scale ;
and numbers, we are convinced, would annually offer themselves for admission to our
ranks, were not the door, through no fault of their own, shut in their face. And this
comes to pass in this way.
A large proportion of our teachers now come annually from our Training Colleges.
Admission to these 'Colleges is guarded by a stringent admission examination. We do
not mean to say that this examination is too stringent. We do not think it is. But, in
the meantime, it practically acts as an effectual bar against the admission of all who
have not enjoyed a good preliminary training. And it is just at this point that the
Highland difficulty comes in. Candidates from the Highlands have not within their
reach the means of obtaining this preliminary training. We have it on the authority of
the Principal of one of our Training Colleges that, at the last examination for admission,
more than twenty-six Gaelic speaking young men all of them purpose like, sterling
young fellows presented themselves, net ene of whom came up to the Government require-
ment. We are not far wide of the mark when we say that not more than two per cent.
of those who passed the last examination were Gaelic speaking. The natural effect of
this is obvious. Young men, who would form excellent teachers, and do incalculable
service in our Highland straths and glens, will seek some other avenue into public life,
and will not run the risk of being rejected when they come seeking admission into the
ranks of the teaching profession.
What remedy can be proposed for this state of matters ? Some would at once
answer that the standard for admission should be lowered. We believe no one who has
the best interests of the Highlands at heart would make any such suggestion. The
Highlands require high-class teachers as much as any part of Scotland. The true
remedy lies in devising some means whereby these lads shall obtain the necessary pre-
liminary training. This they cannot obtain in many parts of the Highlands. "To
come out." in order to obtain it, involves expense, and money is not over plentiful in t!ie
Highlands. We fear it would be idle to ask the Department to do anything in the way
of instituting preliminary bursaries. There are practical difficulties in the wy of a
very serious kind. But surely there are enough spirit and patriotism in the Highlands
to induce the people to take this matter into their own hands. They have raised up-
wards of 10,000 to found and endow a Gaelic Chair in the University of Edinburgh.
The half of this sum would institute a numher of bursaries, to enable young men to
start on equal terms with the more favoured Southerner. The bursaries need not be of
large amount. A Highland lad can make a little go a long way. His wants are few ;
and we are satisfied that a sum of 10 or 15 would enable him to attend some public
institution where the defects of his early training could be made up, and where he would
have the opportunity of proving that, on equal terms, he can hold his own against all
comers.
The Highland glens mpy be dotted with elegant school buildings. These buildings
may gladden the eye and adorn the country. They may be equipped with all the most
recent educational appliances ; but they will not become. centres of light and culture,
until they are manned by intelligent, well trained teachers, who, from their knowledge
of the native tongue, shall be able to reach the heart, as well as the intelligence, of their
scholars, and so to call forth those latent energies which will enable them successfully
to commence the battle of life. How to procure such teachers is a problem the solution
of which deseives the most serious consideration, and to which we shall be glad to lend
any assistance in our power.
190 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
OUR GAELIC BIBLE.
III.
THE year 1801 will long be memorable in the Highlands of Scotland as
that which first gave us in our mother-tongue a complete translation of
the entire Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments. But the comple-
tion of that noble work, imperishable monument though it be to the piety
and the patriotic . enterprise of the Society for Propagating Christian
Knowledge, cannot be said to have to any great extent put the "Word of
God in the hands of the Highland people. Of these, the minutes of the
Society bear that, so far as could be ascertained, there were at the time
" 300,000 who understood no other language but Gaelic, or at least were
incapable of receiving religious instruction through any other." The same
estimate is repeated in 1811 by the first promoters of the Gaelic School
Society. It may therefore be accepted as substantially correct. In a
subsequent chapter we shall inquire how far it could be said that these
300,000 Gaelic-speaking people were able to read the Gaelic Bible if they
possessed it. What most concerns us at present is to remember that not
more than five hundred complete copies, all told, of the Old Testament
were now available for distribution ; and what were they among so many
as 300,000 souls 1 By the time Dr Stuart was ready with the third
volume of the translation, the first, second, and fourth volumes had
already to a great extent been disposed of ; so that in our far Highland
glens many an aged saint of those days, hungering for the "Word, must
have felt himself in a predicament not unlike that of the school-boy who,
after an early and frugal breakfast, found that before completing the four
or five miles walk to school the barley bannock intended for his mid-day
meal had already been forestalled ! Moreover, the few remaining com-
plete copies of the work were in a form both expensive and exceedingly
inconvenient for use ; there being four volumes of the Old Testament,
and the New Testament, which made a fifth volume, being of an
entirely different size. A new issue of the work, in more portable form,
and at a moderate price, Avas thus imperatively called for ; and to this
task the directors of the Society now vigorously applied themselves, as a
matter which they felt to be essential to the success of their great and
benevolent enterprise. But the new labour brought them a rich crop of
new anxieties, the main interest of which, to the present generation,
centres in the objections urged against the re-publication of Dr Smith's
translation of the Prophets. On the merits of that old controversy we
have long ago formed our own conclusions. But we cannot discuss them
h ere all discussion on points of sacred criticism and Biblical interpreta-
tion being properly excluded from the Celic Magazine. It may, however,
be freely admitted, even in these pages, that grave inconveniences could
scarcely fail to attend the common use in our land of a Gaelic Bible which
uttered a sound to any serious extent discordant with the utterances of
the authorized English version. The writer once had himself an ex-
perience of what may be called a minor inconvenience of this sort, which
was yet for the moment sufficiently disconcerting. And it was occasioned,
THE CELTIC HA.GAZINE. 191
not by Smith's Prophets, but by one of the few discrepancies between the
English Bible and the Gaelic quarto of 1826. Happening to spend a few
days in a country place where a Gaelic Bible was not at hand, he prepared
his Gaelic sermon on a text taken from the English Bible. A long walk on
a fine summer morning brought him to church just in time to go straight into
the pulpit, where, on opening the Gaelic Bible let the candid reader judge
of his dismay he found that the text as therein translated, though not
materially differing from the English, yet missed entirely the point on which
was meant to hinge the whole burden of " the following remarks !" That
the public use of Dr Smith's Prophets side by side with the English
Bible would certainly have led to inconveniences of graver import than
this, is sufficiently evident, for the divergence of the former from the latter
is in many passages marked and significant. Whether on critical grounds
the divergence was a virtue or a blemish we do not here inquire. What
most concerns us here is to know that in yielding to the objections urged
against Dr Smith's work, the directois were careful to leave on their re-
cords a lasting testimony of their high opinion of his learning and ability
as a Biblical scholar. " Dr Smith in translating his portion had been at
very considerable pains to make himself acquainted with the Eastern style
of writing, with the views of the prophets and the particular events to
which their predictions referred. In doing this he found it necessary to
consult a great number of the most learned authors on the subject, and from
observations of his own he compared a summary view of the Old Testa-
ment prophets, explaining their figurative style of writing and making
out the objects they had in view in each particular chapter." The
directors so much approved of the work that they agreed to be at the ex-
pense of printing one thousand copies of it " in a frugal manner" for use
in their schools.*
With this handsome compliment to Dr Smith, those Avho revere his
memory can afford to be content, satisfied as well they may be that the
directors of the Society, in throwing overboard his portion of their great
work, were constrained to do so by the force of circumstances which,
apart altogether from the merits of the work or the competency of the
translator, it was impossible for them to disregard. Eor alike the temper
of the times and the views of inspiration then universally held in Scotland
were such that the question to be disposed of was really whether King
James' English should give place to Dr Smith's Gaelic, or vice versa.
That the two could not stand together was a foregone conclusion. So
put, and in all the circumstances, the matter could at the time admit of
no other verdict than that which was given. When, however, the
revisers now sitting from time to time in the Jerusalem chamber have
completed their difficult and most delicate task, it is not unlikely that
some one may be bold enough to raise the question whether that verdict
ought not then to be reconsidered.
Thus it became necessary to find a new translator for the Prophets.
Dr Smith could, of course, have no hand in undoing his own work, and
* This work is not in my possession, but through the kindness of Mr Donald Mac-
kinnon, I am favoured with the following note regarding it : " Dr Smith was a,
voluminous writer. His prophetical book is ' A Summary View and Explanation of the
Writings of the Prophets, 12mo : Edinburgh 1787." There was a " New Edition revised
by the Kev. Peter Hall, M.A., 12mo : London 1835."
192 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
Dr Stewart, of Luss, who readily undertook the rest of the work, felt
himself restrained, as a point of honour, from touching the work of his
friend and fellow-labourer in the original version of 1783-1801. The task
of bringing the obnoxious " Prophets " into harmony with the English
version fell thus to the pen of Dr Alexander Stewart, the distinguished
author of our best existing Gaelic grammar, and the minister successively
of Moulin, Dingwall, and Canongate. His fee was one hundred guineas.
The Society's appeal for the funds required to produce this new work
met with a response so liberal that it was resolved to contract for an issue
of 20,000 copies instead of 10,000, as was at first intended. The estimate
for paper and printing was 2284 10s, "a sum greatly beyond what they
have as yet collected ; notwithstanding which, the directors, confiding in
Providence and in public generosity, ordered the Avork to the above extent
to be put to the press, and it is now carrying on (1804) under the im-
mediate superintendance of a clergyman eminently well qualified for the
office, but advancing more slowly than could be wished." Among many
" impediments " to the progress of the work the directors mention "the
workmen's total ignorance of the language in which they print and the
singular difficulty of the Gaeljc orthography." " Errors, consequently,
are frequent, and many proofs of the same portion are requisite." The
report of 1806 " regrets that the new edition of the Gaelic Bible has not
been carried on with that expedition which would accord witli their own
wishes and the expectations of the public. But the revised copy extend-
ing to the book of Hosea is now prepared for the press." The work was
completed in 1807. It is in two volumes 12mo, containing only the Old
Testament, but uniform with the Luss !S T ew Testament (1796), of which
a large supply was still on hand.
Among collectors of Gaelic books there is more or less prevalent a sort
of vague impression that the British and Foreign Bible Society's first
edition of the Gaelic Bible was printed from the types set up for this
edition of 1807 by the Society for Propagating Christian Knowledge a
misconception probably suggested by lieid's statement in loco that "the
Society ottered the British and Foreign Bible Society half the impression,
on condition that they paid their share of the expense, which ^ca^ n<'e<>i>h'il"
In the minutes of the Society we can trace no evidence of such a transaction.
On the contrary it seems to us that by implication at least there is evi-
dence that, though it may have been contemplated, the transaction in
question was never really entered into. For the minutes contain an ex-
pression of the Scotch Society's gratification that besides the 20,000 copies
of its own edition, an additional issue of 20,000 copies was also to be
printed in London at the expense of the English Society. Be that matter,
however, as it may, it is clear that the two editions were printed from
types manifestly different. Both editions were published in 1807, but
the Scotch edition has a somewhat larger page and type than the English.
The former uses throughout the long old-fashioned s, like /, in the text
and notes, whereas the latter has the modern form of that letter. The
sheets, moreover, are differently numbered for the binder, and the num-
ber of sheets in the two editions is not the same. But there is a more
material difference between them. " In many places," as Keid observes,
of the British and Foreign Bible Society's edition, Dr Daniel Dewar,
afterwards the learned Principal of Marischal College in Aberdeen, on
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
193
whom devolved the labour of putting it through the press, " follows the
original translation of Smith in preference to the altered one of Stewart."
These deviations from the Scotch Society's revised version are not so many
or of so great moment as Eeid's words would seem to imply. JFor the
most part they are not more serious than the change by Principal Dewar
in Isaiah i. 25, of shalchar and staoin in Stewart's version to sliloit and
shalchar respectively. The only changes of note that we have marked
are in Isaiah ix., where it may be well to compare the three versions of
Smith, Alexander Stewart, and Principal Dewar :
Stewart.
Gidheadh clia bhi an
doillearachd mar a bha il
linn a hamhghstir, an uair a
bhuail e gu h-eutrom an
toiseach talamh Shabuloiu
agus talnmh Naphtali, agus
na dheigh sin bhuail e ni
bu truirae e air slighe na
fairge, taobh thall lurdain,
Galile nan cinneacb.
Dewar.
Acb cba bbi dorchadas
innte-san a bba ann an tains :
oir anns an aimsir caidh
seachad, dh'islicb e talamh
Sbubuloin agus talamh
Naphthali, ach anns an aim-
sir dbeireanaicb rinn e
glormbor e, air slighe na
fairge, taobh thall lurdain,
Galile nan cinneach.
Smith.
1. Ach cha bhi 'na dheigh
so dorchadas aims an fhear-
ann a bha 'na theinn : anns
an aimsir a chaidh seachad
dh' isliuli e fearann Shebu-
loin, agus fearaun Naphthali;
ach anns an aimsir dheirean-
aich riiin e glormhor e :
eadhon slighe na fairge, taobh
thall lordain, Galile nan
cinneach.
Similar changes may be seen in verses 2, 3, and 5 of the same chapter.
After all, however, Principal Dewar's changes 011 Dr Alexander
Stewart are small game indeed compared with the latter's changes on the
original version of Dr Smith. We hope ere long to bring out a reprint
of that most interesting work. Meanwhile such readers of the Celtic
Magazine as cannot turn to the book itself may compare the rival versions
in the following extracts, which are taken at random :
Alex, Stewart.
Is truagh dhoibhsan a ta 'g orduchadh
reachdan eucorach, na scriobhuichean a
ta 'g aithneadh fomeirt.
Smith.
Isaiah x. 1. Mo thruaighe iadsan a ta
breithneachadh brt-itheanais eucoraich ;
na scriobhuichean a ta 'g orduchadh
foirueirt.
5. Ho! do'n Asirianach,slatmochorruich,
an lorg aig am bheil 'na laimh acfuinn 'm
fheirge !
Isaiah ix. 5. Oir luireach-luirgnean a'
ghaisgeich armaichte fa chomhrag, agus
an trusgan air a thumadh ann am moran
fala, bithidh air son losgaidh, eadhon nan
connadh air son an teine.
Isaiah i. 1. Faisneachd Isaiah rnhic
Amois, a dh' fhoillsicheadh dha, &c.
Isaiah i. 5. Ciod am ball air am buail
sibh a ris, air an leag sibh tuille smach-
dachaidh ? tha'n ceann uile tinn, &c.
Isaiah i. 13 (last clause). ... an trasg
agus la an toirmeisg.
Isaiah i. 17. Leasaichibh an ni a ta air
a thruailleadh.
Isaiah i. 27. A braighdean.
Isaiah i. 30. Mar chiaoibh chuilinn.
Ho Asirianaich, slat mo chorruich agus
am bata nan laimh 's e sin m'fhearg.
Oir tha gach uile chath an fhir chogaidh
le cruaidh iomairt, agus eudach air a
thumadh ann am fuil ; ach bithidh so le
losgadh, agus connadh air son an teine.
Taisbeanadh Isaiah mhic Amois, a chun-
naic e, &c.
G'ar son a bhuailear sibh mi 's mo? theid
sibh ni 's faide agus nis faide air seacharan.
Tha' ceann uile tinn, &c.
... is eu ceart eadhon an co-ghairm
naomha.
Deanaibh fuasgladh air an fhear tha
saruichte.
A muinntir iompaichte.
Mar dharaig.
The changes in Isaiah ii. are even more numerous ; but let us open the
book elsewhere
Isaiah xli. 1. Do 'm' ionnsuidhsa thig-
eadh ua cinnich iomallaoh le ur-ueart inn-
tiuu ; is atk nuadhaicheadh na sloigh an
neart. Thigeadh iad am fugus ; labhradh
iad ; tionnsgnamid ar tagradh cudromack
le cheile.
Bithibh 'n' ur tosd a' m' lathair, O
eileana, a;us ath-nuadhaicheadh na sloigh
an neart ; thigeadh iad am fagus, an sin
labhradh iad ; dluthaickeamid r'a cheile
chum tagraidh,
194 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
Those who compare Isaiah xxxviii. as rendered by Smith, Stewart, and
Dewar, respectively, and all the more if they are at home in the literature
of that remarkable " and very difficult chapter, will find therein much
food for reflection. In verses 12, 13, 14, and 16, Smith's translation
differs materially from the other two ; and he gets rid of the topical diffi-
culties of verses 21 and 22 by bodily transplanting them so as to stand,
the former between verses 8 and 9, and the latter between verses 6 and
7. Dewar deals with the same difficulty, practically to the same effect,
but by the simpler contrivance of treating as one long parenthesis the
whole passage from verse 7 to verse 20 inclusive, which, accordingly, he
encloses within brackets. Stewart's version stands in our Gaelic Bible
unchanged to this day. Even Clerk and Maclachlan let it alone.
If now the reader who has access to an Irish Bible will compare it
with even the meagre extracts here given, he cannot fail to observe
that, though Stewart had Smith's version before him, he yet goes back in
his choice of words and phrases to lean on the staff of Bedel rather than
take the arm of his countryman. How is this ? It comes not, we believe,
of chance. Nor is it all due to the instinctive sensibility with which a
man like Stewart, deeply imbued with the high evangelical views of
Simeon, would shrink from anything that to his mind savoured of
heterodoxj-, powerful as in his case such an influence must certainly have
been. We believe that all through the Eastern Highlands Kirke's Bible
had by this time rooted itself deeply in the religion of the people. Not,
as will be seen further on, that it was largely read by the people, but it
was read to them largely by catechists and exhorters read to them especi-
ally in the regular ministrations of the " reader " on the Lord's-Day, Nay,
it was read often at firesides, sick-beds, and late- wakes, by readers, if one
may so speak, who could not themselves read, but who as listeners,
entranced by the reading of others, and often as they trod life's weary
way meditating what they heard read, had learned to recite from memory
large portions of the Scriptures. The peculiar phrases of Kirke's Bible,
all the more perhaps that their very peculiarity separated them by deeper
lines from the secular phrases of this mundane moil and from " the wicked
songs of their half-heathen sires," became thus embalmed in their memory
as the cherished symbols of the things of God and the soul and heaven
the lingua sacra of their seasons of sweet communion, holy meditation,
and high angelic ecstasy. Well do we remember a remarkable instance
of this in the person of an aged relative who died forty years ago on the
banks of the Nairn, at the great age of 87. He could not read the Gaelic
Bible, or like the famous minister of Coll in Samuel Johnson's day, he
did not like it.* But he ever held family worship in Gaelic, with the
English Bible open before him ; and it seems now to us as if the strange,
old-world Gaelic he thus used to read were none other than Kirke's,
which he had learned in the way just described from the reading of
Alasdar Vaus or other like worthies of Strathnairn in the olden time.
* "Mention was made of the Erse translation of the New Testament, which has
lately been published, and of which the learned Mr Macqueen of Skye spoke with com-
mendation, but Mr Maclean said he did not use it because he could make the text more
intelligible to his auditors by an extemporaneous version." Johnson's Journey in the
Highlands, by Macnicol, p, 187,
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 195
Not many Sabbaths ago a similar instance flashed back upon us in the
pulpit like the light of other days. The text was 1 Kings xvii. 14,
" Cha chaithear an soitheach mine agus cha teirig an corn olaidh." But
in the swell and swing of rising thought this strange phrase ever more
rang out, "Ni 'n caithear barille na mine 's ni 'n teirig do chruisgin na
h-ola." Whence came the phrase ? Bedel being dead yet speaketh.
Those who in his words first found light and life unto their souls, spake
them to my relative, and the old man, dead these forty years, was now
speaking them again back to me. And here is something written in the
Society's minutes which looks not unlike a corroboration of the theory :
The General Assembly had ordained some years in advance that, as soon
as the Gaelic Bible of 1 807 was ready, none other should be used in the
public worship of God. But from the north-eastern -Synod there came to
the Assembly a strongly -Avorded overture praying the Assembly to rescind
this order. Why 1 What other Bible could they use but Kirke's 1 And
when they could not take the book to the pulpit they just rehearsed it
without the book, or their favourite portions of it, by the help of the
English Bible. This was, we believe the popular feeling in Stewart's
day all through the Eastern Highlands from Perth to Strathnaver.
Stewart himself, if he drank not of that feeling with his mother's milk,
yet spent his life in the focus of its influence. What wonder, then, if,
being human, though a prince among Gaelic scholars, he should on this
sacred ground lean back from the living, clear-cut, idiomatic, every-day
Gaelic of Dr Smith to the lingua sacra of the people among whom he did
his life-work ?
DONALD MASSON, M.A., M.D.
BUSIED GAELIC SONGS.
o
IT is too commonly supposed that all the Gaelic poems which have been
printed are accessible to the reading public. Such is far from being the
case. The old collections of Gaelic poems are very scarce. It was with
great difficulty that I procured a copy of Ronald Macdonald's work. I
had to pay fifteen shillings for it. Gillies' work cannot be purchased at
all. I got my copy of the work, not for money, but by good luck. I
have the copy which belonged to the Rev. Dr Macgregor. I know of
only two copies of this collection on this side of the Atlantic ; Mr Camp-
bell, in his Leabhar na Feinne, says he knows of only thirteen copies in
the old country. Even Stewart's collection, Turner's collection, the
Inverness collections, and Macfarlane's collection, are scarce works.
Our late collections, such as Leabhar na Feinne, Sar-obair nam Bard,
and the Oranaiche, contain the greater number of the best poems in the
old collections, but they do not contain all the good poems in those works,
196 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
Why should good poems lie buried in books which, cannot be obtained ?
Any person -who would collect and publish those poems in the old col-
lections which do not appear in the new collections, would be doing good
service in the cause of Gaelic literature, and also conferring a great favour
upon all readers of Gaelic, by giving them access to new fields of pleasure.
Eonald Macdonald's collection was published in the year 1776. It
contains 106 poem?. Of these 53 appear in Sar-obair nam Burd, 3 in
Menzies's collection, 2 in Munro's Adleagan, 1 in Leabhar na Feinne, 1
in. the Melodist, and 1 in Mac Mhaighstir Alastair's work. Of the re-
maining 45 poems- 1 cannot find any in our present collections. Four of
them are by Iain Dubh Mac Iain Mine Ailein, 2 by Iain Lorn, 2 by Iain
Mac Aileiu, 1 by Euairidh Mac Mhuirich, and 1 by Mairearad Nighean
Lachainn. Iain Dubh Mac Iain Mhic Ailein was a Macdonald ; Iain
Mac Ailein was /a Maclean.
Gillies' collection was published in 1786. It contains 117 poems.
Of these 22 are in Leabhar na Feinne, 20 in Sar-obair nam Bard, 3 in
Sinclair's Oranaiche, 1 in Menzies' collection, and 1 in Mackenzie's Jaco-
bite Songs. There are 61 poems in this collection which are not to be
found elsewhere. Three of these are by Iain Lorn.
A. & D. Stewart's collection was published in 1804. It contains 128
poems. Of these there are 34 in Sar-obair nam Bard, 9 in Leabhar na
Feinne, 9 in Menzies' collection, and 2 in Mackenzie's Jacobite Songs. Of
the remaining poems, 22 are by Rob Donn, and 13 by William Ross.
These, of course, are in the works of those poets. There are 39 poems
in this collection which do not appear elsewhere.
The first Inverness collection was published in tlie year 1806. It
contains 64 poems, all of which, except eleven, are in our present collec-
tions.
Turner's collection was published in 1813. It contains 122 poems.
Of these only 51 are to be found in our late collections. Of the 71 which
have not been reprinted, 3 are by Mairearad Nighean Lachainn, 8 by
Iain Lorn, 5 by Ailean Buidhe, 3 by Shaw, and 1 by Mairi Nighean
Alastair Ruaidh.
Patrick Macfarlane's collection was published in the year 1813. It
contains 45 poems. They are all, except six, in our present collections.
Two of the poems which have not been reprinted are by the Rev. Mr
Maclagan, and possess much merit.
The six collections I have examined contain 238 poems which are not
in the works which can be now purchased. A few of these poems are
doubtless Avorthless, and do not deserve to be reprinted. I do not think,
however, that there is even one utterly worthless poem either in Ronald
Macdonald's, Gillies', or Macfarlane's collection. I would like to see
everything in these very excellent works reprinted.
But could a collection containing those poems in the old collections
which do not appear in the new collections, be sold 1 I should think so.
Would not every person who reads Sar-obair nam Bard like to have it 1
For my own part I would gladly take ten copies of the work It could
be sold, I suppose, for about ten shillings a copy.
A. MACLEAN SINCLAIR.
PlCIOU, NOVA SCOIIA, January 22, 1879.
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 19?
/iterate*.
0-
GENEALOGICAL TABLES OF THE CLAN MACKENZIE. By Major JAMES
D. MACKENZIE of Findon ; from the Author, or JOHN NOBLE, Inverness.
WE sometimes feel that the good old saying, that one can have too much
of a good thing, may, with no little force, be applied to the quantity of
matter appearing in the Celtic Magazine for the last seventeen months
about the Clan Mackenzie. While we sometimes felt this, we found our-
selves very much relieved by the fact that only one solitary voice reached
us daring the whole of that period with a complaint of the nature here
indicated. This may possibly be due more to the characteristic long-
suffering of our countrymen than to any merit or attractiveness which our
continued lucubrations possessed. At the same time we felt that the
reader would soon find out for himself that though those articles were
only designated a " History of the Clan Mackenzie," they were, in point
of fact, a great deal more were, to a great extent, a history of the North
West Highlands of Scotland ; for it Avould be impossible, even were it
desirable, to write a history of any important clan without relating a
great deal concerning the others, and about many of the feuds and con-
tentions so long chronic north of the Grampians. If, even after these
preliminary remarks, any one be left who can yet find an excuse
for objecting to so much Mackenzie literature, we vouchsafe the informa-
tion, that it is our intention to give such an opportunity of retaliation.
We intend to continue the history of the various clans ; and, when we
have finished the Mackenzies, we shall present them, in their turn, with
a strong dose of Cameron or Macdonald, and so on, until we have given a
separate history of all the principal clans in the North. With this ex-
planation we proceed to notice briefly the valuable and laborious work
before us ; and we do so with the greater pleasure from its being the work
of two gentlemen of a class who generally prefer dignified ease or wild sport
to labour of this description. A gentleman in Findon's position would
never be induced to enter such a difficult field, unless he felt that he owed
a duty to his clan, and, especially, to the memory of his late brother, who
worked so hard for many years collecting materials among old MSS.,
sasines, deeds, in the Register House, and elsewhere, which, in conse-
quence of his sudden death, it was feared, would, never see the light.
Persons like ourselves have often to work in such fields from a double
motive the necessity of securing a return for our labour perhaps being
sometimes as great an inducement as mere love for the work itself; and
this is why we feel specially grateful to Major Mackenzie for placing be-
fore the public, from purely patriotic motives, the valuable and extensive
materials collected by his late brother, with what additions he was him-
self able to make to them.
The work consists of thirteen large sheets of Tables, showing the
origin and descent of all the principal families of Mackenzie, and their
matrimonial connections with the other powerful houses throughout the
Highlands, such as the Earls of Boss, Macdougalls of Lorn, and other
198 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
distinguished families. The descent of the clan from the early Kings of
England, Scotland, and Man, is carefully traced. The traditional progenitor
of the clan, Colin Fitzgerald, of Ireland, is placed at the top of the tree, and
his ancestry traced back to the year 800, over many impossible heights,
and across wide and unbridgeable valleys of history and tradition first to
Ireland, and then to the famous Gherardini of Florence. Onr own views,
supported by the best modern authorities, of this fabulous and misty
origin of the clan is already well known to the reader, and the only re-
ference to it with -which we shall burden this notice, is to remark that
we have, in our Introduction to the History of the Clan Mackenzie in
numbers xxv. and xxvi. of the Celtic Magazine, devoted more space to
the discussion of the origin of the clan and its founder than Major Mac-
kenzie has devoted in all his letter-press to the whole clan; and while we
think he said all that could be said for the Fitzgerald origin, and said it
well, we cannot avoid pointing out the error, or oversight, into which he
has fallen when he wrote the footnote on page 8 on the face of it an
after-thought and where he describes the writer of the History in the
Celtic Magazine as " begging the whole question," of the origin of the
clan, in the face of the fact, well known to the reader, that we devoted
about twenty pages of closely printed letter-press to the discussion of it.
Without this explanation, readers of Findon's pamphlet would naturally
assume that the question was never discussed by us at all. That assump-
tion would be incorrect; we discussed it fully, and to that discussion
we refer the reader. Poor Colin Fitzgerald is fast disappearing, for even
Findon has now reduced him to " the Colin of tradition." But we can-
not resist the temptation to quote the late editor of the Inverness Courier,
Robert Carruthers, LL.D., as a set-off against the views adopted by the
reviewer of the Tables in a recent issue of that paper. The Doctor says
" This chivalrous and romantic (Fitzgerald) origin of the Clan Mac-
kenzie, though vouched for by certain charters and local histories, is now
believed to be fabulous. It seems to be first advanced in the seventeenth
century, when there was an absurd desire and ambition in Scotland to
fabricate and magnify all ancient and lordly pedigrees. Sir George Mac-
kenzie, the Lord Advocate, and Sir George Mackenzie of Tarbat, the first
Earl of Cromarty, were ready to swear to the descent of the Scots nation
from Gathelus, son of Cecrops, King of Athens, and Scota, his wife,
daughter of Pharoah, King of Egypt ; and, of course, they were no less
eager to claim a lofty and illustrious lineage for their own clan. But
authentic history is silent as to the two wandering Irish knights, and the
reported charters (the elder one being, palpably, erroneous) can nowhere
be found. For two centuries after the reigns of the Alexanders the district
of Kintail formed part of the lordship of the Isles, and was held ly the
Earls of Ross."
Major Mackenzie informs us that the materials from which the Tables
were made up were collected by his late brother, LeAvis Mark Mackenzie
of Findon, whose intention of connecting the whole in a history of the
clan was frustrated by his early death, and in order to save from the
wreck of time such details as remained, Findon drew out the tables as they
are now presented, and published them for the benefit of his clan and
countrymen, and by doing this he has earned, and we tmst is receiving,
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 199
their gratitude in the only appropriate manner purchasing the work.
To put the tables in their present shape Avas itself no light task,
and it would be found almost impossible to do even that, were the ma-
terials otherwise perfect, without committing errors. No doubt a few
such will be discovered, but they are trifling in comparison with the vast
mass of correct information given. Findon himself is sensible of not a
few faults, and modestly thinks that the arrangement could also be
improved. This is likely enough, but it is much easier to suggest im-
provements on a completed work than to prepare and finish it as this
one is finished, if the great difficulty is considered of tracing the rami-
fications of a hundred families for six hundred years, and of placing them
clearly in view. Possibly few people can appreciate these difficulties
more than we do, and, knowing them, it would be most ungenerous to
cavil at trifling errors that were, in the circumstances, unavoidable. The
amount of authentic information and detail given is simply marvellous,
and it is quite impossible that any one who takes an interest in Highland
family genealogies ca i be without a copy of Major Mackenzie's Tables.
The " History of the Clan Mackenzie," now passing through the press,
by the writer of this article, is, in its scope and aims, quite a different
work to Findon's, while it also will contain complete genealogies of all
the principal families of Mackenzie. Its general character may be seen
from the following reference to it by Major Mackenzie : " It was the
intention of my brother also to write a complete history of the clan and
its branches, but as this portion of his design is actually being executed
in a highly interesting work now publishing at Inverness, I have not
deemed it necessary myself to add much letter-press to the tables, believ-
ing that authentic and full information will be given in that work re-
garding the origin and the possessions of the various families." This
paragraph illustrates, by no means too favourably, the kindly spirit
which Major Mackenzie exhibited towards our labours from the beginning;
and it is only right to say that he never hesitated to give us any informa-
tion in his power on any obscure point on which we had occasion to con-
sult him, while he, in the most courteous manner, sent us for perusal all
the Mackenzie MSS. histories in his possession.
EEAL HIGHLAND HONOUES. Cluny Macpherson of Clnny
ought to be, if he is not, the proudest man in the Highlands. We do not
know any other at this moment who occupies such a proud and honourable
position. While he is himself Colonel of the Inverness-shire Rifle
Volunteers, his eldest son and heir, Lieutenant-Colonel Duncan Macpher-
son, is in command of the 42d Eoyal Highlanders, or Black Watch, and
his second son, Lieutenant-Colonel Ewen Macpherson, commands the 93d
Sutherland Highlanders two of the finest regiments in the world. Long
live Cluny and his gallant sons I
Another Highland Chief, one of the good old sort of whom we often
read, but now seldom see, Duncan Davidson of Tulloch, has been appointed
by Her Majesty Lord-Lieutenant of the County of Eoss, a real and well-
merited honour. Gu ma fada beo an Sar Ghaidliecd.
200
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
ORAN DO SHIR COINNEACH GHEARRLOCH.
With Spirit.
Gn'm bu slan do dheadh Shir Coinneach, Sheas e 'choinneamh mar a b' abhaist,
Long life and health to good Sir Kenneth, Who graced our festival as usual,
N-frT 7 ?
z*=i
Cridheil, uasal, eolach, cliuteach, Mar cheann-iuil do Chlann nan Gaidheal.
Cheerful, noble, learned, honoured, Worthy guide to Claim na Gaidheal.
KEY D.
|m.s : 1 ., r | t ., s : 1 . r | m . s :l.rjt,s : m ., d
I r . r : m . m I s ., s : r 1 ., r 1 | 1 . d 1 : s ., d 1 1 s ., m : r ., r II
Ochd ceucl deug, naoi deug 's tri Behead,
Sin a bhliadhua 's math leinn aireamh,
Fhuair sinn urram bho Shir Coinneach.
'N gaisgeaeh tapaidh 's Triath air < ! earrloch.
Gu'm bu slan, &c.
luchair-ghliocais an taobh tuatha,
Gu'm a buan an t-urram dhasa,
Ceann na ceille, steidh nam buadhan
Deadh Shir Coinneach uasal Ghearrloch.
Gu'm liu slan, &c.
Cha'n eil goill aige dha 'n arach,
'S iad na Gaidheil fliein bu chinntich,
Sheas iad cruadalach ro dhileas
Le craobh-shinnsridh Oighre Ghearrloch.
(Ju'in bu slan, &c.
Tha gach tighearn' is duin' uasal,
'S an taobh tuath gu leir ag ratainn,
Nach eil uachdaran cho buadhach
Ri Sir Coinneach uasal Ghearrloch.
Gu'm bu slan, &c.
Tha gach oganach 's gach buachaill,
Tha gach tuathanach 's gach armunn,
Deas gu eiridh, ealamh, uallach,
Mar bu dual do mhuinntir Ghearrloch.
Gu'm bu slan, &c.
"S mairg a dhuisgeadh aim 's an uair sin
Aobhar gruaim no culaidh thaire ;
'S grad a chlosaichte gach fuathas
Le "Clann Karhaiim Ruaidh a Gearrloch.
Gu'm bu slan, &c.
Fhad sa ruitheas uisg a fuaran,
Fhad sa ghluaiseas tonn air saije,
Gus an tfaigh na h-eoin na cuaintean,
Gu'n robh buaidh air teaghlach Ghearrloch.
Gu'm bu slan, &c.
The year we love to mind and cherish
Is eighteen hundred and seventy -nine,
When we were honoured by the presence
of Sir Kenneth, Chief of Gairloch.
Long life and health, &c.
In the North he's Wisdom's key,
Long that honour be his portion,
Sauarious head and source of virtue.
Good Sir Kenneth, pride of Gairloch.
Long life and health, &c.
He keeps no Lowlanders to foster,
Native Celts he finds more faithful,
Always standing brave and trusty
Round th" ancestral-tree of Gairloch.
Long life and health, &c.
It's maintained by all the gentry,
And the chiefs throughout the Highlands,
There's not a laird with all the virtues
Of Sir Kenneth, laird of Gairloch.
Long life and health, <fec.
From the farmer to the shepherd,
From the stripling to the hem,
All are willing, swift, and ready,
As of yore, to rise with Gairloch.
Long life and health, &c.
Woe to him who roused at that time
Ghost of shamefulness or anger,
Quick subdued would be the spectre
By Clann Eachainn Ruaidh of Gairloch.
Long life and health, &c.
Long as water flows from fountain,
Long as billows roll on ocean,
Till the birds the sea drink empty,
Let virtue grace the House of Gairloch.
Long life and health, Ac.
NOTE. The above song, in praise of Sir Kenneth S. Mackenzie of Gairloch, Bart., was com-
posed by Mr Colin Chisholm, Inverness, and sung by him at the late dinner of the Gaelic Society,
amidst unbounded enthusiasm. The air is a spirited one, and is well known in the West Hi,i;ii-
|inds. For the benefit of the Knglish reader a literal translation, by the Editor, is given.
W. M'K.
THE
CELTIC MAGAZINE.
No. XLIF. APRIL, 1879. VOL. IV.
HISTORY OF THE CLAN MACKENZIE.
BY THE EDITOR.
[CONTINUED. |
THE CHIEFSHIP.
IT would have been seen that the male line of Colonel Alexander Mac-
kenzie of Assynt became extinct on the death of Francis Huinberston
Mackenzie, the last Lord Seaforth, who died in 1815, surviving all his
male issue. It will also be remembered that the male line of George,
second Earl of Seaforth, who died in 1G51, terminated in Kenneth, nine-
teenth Baron of Kintail, whose only issue was Caroline, married to Count
Melfort. It was previously shown that the lineal descent of the original
line of Kintail was directed from heirs male in the person of Anna,
Countess of Balcarres, daughter of Colin, first Earl of Seaforth ; and the
male line of Colonel Alexander Mackenzie of Assynt having terminated
in " the Last of the Seaforths," we must again carry the reader back to a
collateral branch to pick up the legitimate succession, and, as far as
possible, settle the question of the present Chiefship of the Clan.
Various gentlemen have been and are claiming this highly honourable
position, and this is not to be wondered at, when it is kept in mind that
whoever establishes his right thereto, establishes at the same time his
right to the ancient honours of the House of Kintail. It has been already
pointed out elsewhere that the original title of Lord Mackenzie of Kintail
did not come under the attainder which followed on the part which Earl
William took in the Rising of 1715, and it follows that the present Chief
of the Maekenzies in virtue of that position, as heir male of the first Lord
Mackenzie of Kintail, is entitled to assume that title ; and it therefore
becomes a very important duty in a work like this, to make the ques-
tion as clear as possible and finally dispose of it once and for all.
We have before tis the claim and pedigree of a Captain Murdoch
Mackenzie, " of London," who claimed " the titles, honours, and dignities
of Earl of Seaforth and Baron Mackenzie of Kintail," in virtue of the
claimant's pretended descent from the Honourable John Mackenzie of
Assynt, second son of Kenneth, third Earl of Seaforth. According to
this pedigree the Honourable John Mackenzie had a son, "Murdoch
Mackenzie of Lochbroom, who, having shown a disposition of enterpris3
R
202 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
like his kinsman Earl "William, left his native parish in 1729 or 1730,
first for Aberdeen and afterwards for Northumberland, where, in conse-
quence of the unsettled state of Scotland, he resided with his family."
Murdoch had a son, John Mackenzie, " born, in Beadnall, Parish of Barn-
borough, County Northumberland in 1738, married Miss Isabella David-
son in 1762, and died in 1780, in his forty-second year." This John
had a son, " Captain Murdoch Mackenzie, the claimant, born at Beadnall,
County of Northumberland, 1763, married 1781, Miss Eleanor Brown,
of the same place, and has issue. He commanded the ship, Essex, trans-
port, 81, of London, during the late war (1815). Being desirous to see
his clan in the North, in 1790 he visited the late Francis Lord Seaforth,
who, in the true spirit of Scotch sincerity, hospitality, and nobility, re-
ceived him with demonstrations of pleasure. After talking over family
matters, his Lordship candidly said that Captain Murdoch ought to have
been the peer in point of primogeniture." A short account of the family
accompanies the pedigree, which concludes thus : " In consequence of
the death of the last peer it has been discovered in Scotland that the
titles and family estates have devolved upon Captain Murdoch Mackenzie,
of London. This gentleman is naturally anxious to establish his rights,
but being unable to prosecute so important a claim without the aid of
sufficient funds, he has been advised to solicit the aid of some individuals
whoso public spirit and liberal feelings may prompt them to assist him on
the principle that such timely assistance and support will be gratefully
and liberally rewarded. Captain Mackenzie hereby offers to give his
bond for 300 (or more if required) for every 100 that may be lent
him to prosecute his claim the same to become due and payable within
three months after he shall have recovered his title and estates." It will
appear from the last clause that Captain Murdoch was a most cautious
man. We have not learnt the result of this appeal, but Captain Mur-
doch Mackenzie certainly did not establish his claim either to the titles
or to the estates of the last Lord Seaforth.
It is, however, placed beyond doubt by the evidence produced at the
Allangrange Service in 1829, that Kenneth, not Murdoch, was the name
of the eldest son of the Honourable John Mackenzie of Assynt, and there
is no trace of his having had any other sons. By an original Precept
issued by the Provost and Magistrates of Fortrose, dated 30th October
1716, the son of the late John Mackenzie of Assynt is described as
" Kenneth Mackenzie, now of Assynt, grandchild and apparent heir to
the deceased Isobell, Countess Dowager of Seaforth, his grandmother on
the father's side." In the same document he is described as her " nearest
and lawful heir." It will thus appear that Captain Murdoch Mackenzie's
genealogy is incorrect at the very outset, and if further proof be wanted
that the descendants of John Mackenzie of Assynt are extinct, it will be
found in the fact that the succession to the representation and honours of
the family of Seaforth devolved on the male issue of Colonel Alexander
of Assynt and Conansbay a younger sou, and in the parole evidence
given by very old people at the Allangrange Service.
The claim of Captain Murdoch Mackenzie having failed, we must go
back another step in the chain to pick up the legitimate succession to the
honours of Kintail, and here we are met by another claim, put forward
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 203
by the late Captain "William Mackenzie of Gruinard, in the folio Aving
letter :
"11 Margaret Street, Cavendish Square,
" London, 24th October 1 829.
" My dear Allangrange, Having observed in the Courier of the 21st
inst., at a meeting at Tain, that you were proceeding with the Seaforth
Claims, I take the earliest opportunity of communicating to you a cir-
cumstance which I am sure my agent, Mr Eoy, would have informed you
of sooner, did he know that you were proceeding in this affair; and
which, I think probable, he has done ere this ; but lest it might have
escaped his notice, I deem it proper to acquaint you that on Mr Eoy
having discovered, by authenticated documents, that I was the lineal
descendant of George, Earl of Seaforth, he authorised an English counsellor
to make application to the Secretary of State to that effect, who made a
reference to the Court of Exchequer in Scotland to examine the evidence
Mr Roy having satisfied them with having all which he required to
establish my claim. I therefore am inclined to address you in order that
you may be saved the trouble and expense attending this affair. Indeed,
had I known you were taking any steps in this business, be assured I
would have written to you sooner.
" I had not the pleasure of communicating with you since your mar-
riage, upon which event I beg leave to congratulate you, and hope I shall
soon have the pleasure of learning of your adding a member to the Clan
Kenneth. Believe me, my dear Mac, yours most sincerely,
"(Signed) WM. MACKENZIE.
" George F. Mackenzie of Allangrange,
by Munlochy, Eoss-shire."
The Gruinard claim is founded on a Genealogical Tree in possession of
the representatives of the Family, by which John, first of Gruinard, is
made out to be the son of George of Kildun, second son of George, second
Earl of Seaforth. It is generally believed among the clan that the de-
scendants of this George, who was the second George of Kildun, are long
ago extinct ; but whether this be so or not, it can be conclusively shown,
by reference to dates, that John, first of Gruinard, could not possibly have
been his son. And to the conclusive evidence of dates may fairly be
added the testimony of all the Mackenzie MSS. which we have perused,
and which make any reference to John of Gruinard. In every single
instance where he is mentioned, he is described as a natural son of
George second Earl of Seaforth. Before he succeeded Earl George was
known as (first) George of Kildun, hence the confusion and the error in
the Gruinard^Genealogical Tree. The "Ancient" MS. so often referred to in
this work, and the author of which must have been a contemporary of
John, first of Gruinard, says, that Earl George " had also am naturall son,
called John Mackenzy, Avho married Loggie's daughter." The author of
the Ardintoul MS., who was the grandson, as mentioned by himself, of
Farquhar Macrae, Constable of Islandonain Castle in Earl Colin's time,
and consequently almost, if not contemporary with John of Gruinard, de-
scribing the effects of the disastrous battle of Worcester, informs us that
Earl George, who was then in Holland, was informed of the result of the
battle " by John of Gruinard, his natural son, and Captain Hector Mac-
204 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
kenzie, who made their escape from the battle," and that the tidings
" unraised his melancholy, and so died in the latter end of September
1651." The Letterfearn MS. is also contemporary, as the author of
it speaks of Earl Kenneth as "now Earl of Seaforth," and of Kiklun, in
the present tense, while he speaks of his father in the past, and says, " He
(Earl George) left ane natural son, who is called John, who is married
with Loggie's daughter."
It may be objected, however probable it may appear that these MSS.
are correct, that they are not authentic. We have before us, how-
ever, a certified copy of a sasine, dated 6th day of February 1658, from
the Part. Eeg. Sasines of Inverness, vol. 7, fol. 316, from which we quote
as follows : " Compearit personally John M'Kenzie naturall broyr to
ane noble Erie Kenneth Erie of Seaforth Lord of Kintail, &c., as bailzie in
that part," on behalf of " the noble Lady Dame Isabell M'Kenzie Countess
of Seaforth, sister german to Sir George Mackenzie of Tarbet, Knight,
future ladie to the said noble Erie." There is still another document
having a most important bearing on this question, recently discovered
in the office of the Sheriff Clerk of Tain. It is a discharge by
Patrick Smith of Bracco to Lord Seafort and his Cautioner, John
Mackenzie of Gruinard, dated and registered in the Commissar Books
at Fortrose, on the 4th December 1668. In this document Patrick
Smith states that " Kenneth, Earl of Seafort, Lord Kintail, as principal,
and John Mackenzie of Gruinyard, designit in the obligatione vnder-
wrytten his naturall brother as cautioner " by their band of 22 January
1656, band them to pay to him (the said Patrick), 6000 merks Scots,
which band is registered in the Books of Council and Session, and ane
decreet of -the Lords thereof interponit thereto upon the 25 July 1665
by virtue of which he raisit letters of horning against them, and had the
said John denuncit a rebel and at the home, and thereupon obtained the
gift of his escheit and life-rent ; and that the said noble Earl, for relief of
himself and his Cautioner, had made payment of the said 6000 merks,
&c., for which said Patrick discharges them of the band, and resigns to
the said John the gift of the escheit," the discharge being subscribed and
registered, as already stated, at Fortrose, on the 4th December 1668,
witnessed by Alex. Mackenzie " of Adross " (? Ardross), and written by
Alexander Davidson, " writer in Fortrose." Further, George of Kildun
married, first, Mary Skene, daughter of Skene of Skene, in 1661, as will
be seen by a charter to her of her jointure lands of Kincardine, &c. (see
Part. Keg. Sas. Invss.. vol. ix., fol. 9). He married, secondly, Margaret,
daughter of Urquhart of Craighouse. It will at once occur to the reader
how absolutely impossible it was that George of Kildun, who only married
his first wife in 1661, could have had a son, John of Gruinard, who
obtained a charter in his favour of the lands of Little Gruinard, &c., in
1669, and who is, in that charter, designated " of Meikle Gruinard," while
John of Gruinard's wife has lands disponed to her in 1655, i.e., six years
before the marriage of his reputed father George of Kildun ? Further,
how could John of Gruinard's second son, Kenneth, have married, as he
did, the widow of Kenneth " Og," fourth Earl, who died in 1701, if John,
his father, had been the son by a second marriage of " George of Kildin,"
who married his first wife in 1661 ? This is absolutely conclusive.
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 205
Kenneth, third Earl of Seaforth, according to the Gruinard gene-
alogy John of Gruinard's uncle, Avas Lorn at Brahau Castle in 1635.
He is described as "a child" in 1651 by a contemporary writer, who
informs us that the Kintail people declined to rise with him in that year
during his father's absence on the Continent, "because he was but a
child, and his father, their master, was in life." Colin, first Earl of Sea-
forth, died in 1G33, and, the author of the Ancient MS. informs us that
" Earl George, being then the Laird of Kildun, married before his
brother's death, the Lord Forbcs's daughter." Thus, George of Kildun
could not have been born before 1636 or 1637 and the date of his
first marriage, twenty-four years later, tends to corroborate this. How then
could he have a married son, John of Gruinard, whose wife obtained lands
in 1655, i.e., when Kilduu himself was only about 18 years of age, and
when John, then designated of Gruinard, was, in 1656, old enough to be
cautioner for Earl Kenneth? Proof of the same conclusive character could
be adduced, to any extent, but, in the face of the authentic documents
already quoted, it appears qiiite superfluous to do so.
John first of Gruinard could not possibly have been a son of the second
George Mackenzie of Kildun. He was undoubtedly the natural son of
the first George who succeeded his brother Colin, as second Earl of
Seaforth, and it necessarily follows that the representatives of John
of Gruinard have no claim whatever to the Chiefship of the Clan
or to the ancient honours of the family of Kintail. But the claim
having been made it was impossible, in a work like this, to pass it over,
though we would have much preferred that the question had never "been
raised.
ALLANGRANGE LINE.
HAVING thus disposed of the Gruinard claim, and the legitimate represen-
tation of the later Peers in the male line having become extinct, to pick
up the chain of the ancient House of Kintail, we must revert to Kenneth
first Lord Mackenzie of Kiutail. It will be remembered that Kenneth
had seven sons, three by the first and four by his second marriage, namely,
by Anne Ecss of Balnagowan, (1), Colin, his successor; (2), John of Loch-
linn, who left an only daughter Margaret ; and (3), Kenneth, who died
unmarried. By his second wife, Isabel, daughter of Gilbert Ogilvie of
Powrie, he had (4), Alexander, who died young; (5), George, who succeeded
his brother Colin as second Earl of Seaforth, and whose line terminated
in Lady Caroline ; (6), Thomas of Pluscardine, whose male line is
also extinct, and represented in the female line by Arthur Robertson now
of Inshes, Inverness ; and (7), Simon, after the death of his brother
designated of Lochslinn, and whose representative has become and now
is the male heir of the ancient family of Kintail, and Chief of the Clan
Mackenzie.
SIMON MACKENZIE OF LOCHSLINN married, first, Elizabeth, daughter of
the Rev. Peter Bruce, D.D., Principal of St Leonard's College, St Andrews,
son of Bruce of Fingask, by Elizabeth, daughter of Alexander Wedder-
burn of Blackness. By her he had five sons and one daughter. The
first son was the famous Sir George Mackenzie of Rosehaugh, Lord Advo-
cate. His history is well known, and it would serve no good purpose to
give a meagre account of him such as could be done in the space at our
206 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE,
disposal. He wrote various works of acknowledged literary merit, and
his " Institutes" is yet considered a standard work by lawyers, lie left
an autobiography in MS., published in Edinburgh by his widow in 1716.
The small estate of Eosehaugh, where his residence lay, was in his time
profusely covered over with the shrub known as the Dog Rose, which
suggested to the famous lawyer the idea of designating that property by
the name of " Vallis Eosaruni," hence Eosehaugh.
Sir George married, first, Elizabeth, daughter of John Dickson of
Hartree, and by her had three sons John, Simon, and George, all of
whom died young, and two daughters Agnes, who married James Stuart
Mackenzie, first Earl of Bute,* and Elizabeth, who married, first, Sir
Archibald Cockburn of Langton, with issue, and, secondly, the Honour-
able Sir James Mackenzie of Eoyston, Bart., with issue George, who
died without succession, and two daughters, married, with issue. Sir
George married, secondly, Margaret, daxighter of Halliburton of Pitcur,
by whom he had two sons and two daughters, all of whom died without
issue except George, who succeeded his father as second of Eosehaugh,
married, and had an only daughter who died without issue. It will
thus be seen that the male line of Sir George Mackenzie of Eosehaugh
also became extinct.
SIMON MACKENZIE, second son of the Honourable Simon of Loch-
slinn, married Jane, daughter of Alexander Mackenzie, first of Ballone,
brother to Sir John Mackenzie of Tarbat, and uncle to George, first Earl
of Cromarty. The marriage contract is dated 1663. Simon died at
Lochbroom in the following year, and left an only and posthumous son,
I. SIMON MACKENZIE, first of Allangrange, an advocate at the
Scottish Bar. The property of Allangrange was acquired in the follow-
ing way: Alexander Mackenzie, first of Kilcoy, who was third son of
Colin Cam, eleventh Baron of Kintail, had four sons, of whom the young-
est, Eoderick, obtained the lands of Kilmuir, in the Black Isle, and be-
coming a successful lawyer, Sheriff Depute Uhd Member of Parliament,
and was knighted by Charles II. Sir Eoderick Mackenzie, then of Fin-
don, acquired by the purchase of several properties, a very considerable
estate, which, at his death in 1692, and on that of his only son the fol-
lowing year, were divided among his daughters, as heirs-portioners. The
third of these daughters, Isobel, married (August 22, 1693) Simon Mac-
kenzie, the Advocate, and brought him as her portion the Estate of
ALLAN, formerly the property and residence of Seaforth, and which was
thenceforth called by the name of Allangrange. By her he had issue (1),
Eoderick, who died before his father, unmarried ; (2), George, who suc-
ceeded ; (3), Kenneth ; (4), "William, a captain in the Dutch army, mar-
ried, issue extinct ; and (5), Simon, died in the West Indies, without
issue.
Simon of Allangrange had also four daughters Lilias, died unmarried ;
Elizabeth, married, in 1745, John Matheson of Fernaig ; Eliza, married
Ludovic, son of Eoderick Mackenzie, fifth of Eedcastle ; and Isobel,
married Murdo Cameron at Allangrange, with issue.
* For the (iucceision, see Eetours of Jamei, Marquis of But*, 1721,
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 207
He married, secondly, on the 28th August 1718, Susanna Eraser,
daughter of Colonel Alexander Eraser of Kinneries, known as the
"Coroner"; male issue extinct. He was drowned in the river Orrin,
returning from a visit to Fairburn, in February 1730, and was succeeded
by his eldest surviving son,
II. GEORGE MACKENZIE, who, in May 1731, married Margaret, grand-
daughter* of Sir Donald Bayne of Tulloch. The male representation of
the Baynes terminated in John, and his daughter, Margaret, carried
the lineal descent of that old and respectable family into the house of
Allangrange. The Baynes were not originally a Eoss-shire family, but a
branch of the Clan Mackay which settled in the vicinity of Dingwall in
the sixteenth century. By Margaret Bayne George had issue, five sons,
(1), Simon, who died young in 1731 ; (2), William, who became a Captain
in the 25th Eegiment, died unmarried, in 1764; (3), George, died young ;
(4), Alexander, died unmarried, in 1765 ; and (5), John, who succeeded his
father. He also had several daughters, (1), Margaret, who married, as his
second wife, Alexander Chisholm of Chisholm, and by him had issue, his
successor, William Chisholm of Chisholm, who, in 1795, married Eliza,
daughter of D. Macdonell of Glengarry, and by her had Alexander
William Chisholm of Chisholm, M.P,, who died, unmarried, in 1838;
and Duncan Macdonell Chisholm, who succeeded his brother as Chisholm.
of Chisholm, and, in 1859, died unmarried ; also Jemima Chisholm, who
married Edmund Batten, with issue; (2), Isobel, who married, in 1767,
Simon Mackenzie of Langwell, a Captain in the 4th Eegiment, with issue.
George had six other (laughters, all of whom died young or unmarried.
He died in J 733, and was succeeded by his eldest surviving son,
III. JOHN MACKENZIE, at an early age appointed Examiner of Cus-
toms in Edinburgh. He married, first, in 1781, Catherine Falconer,
eldest daughter and co-heiress of James Falconer of Monkton, and grand-
daughter of the Eight Honourable Lord Halkerton and the Honourable
Jane Falconer. By the acquisition of this lady's fortune Allangrange was
able to devote himself to agricultural pursuits, for which he had a strong
prediliction, and in which he was eminently successful. His wife died in
1790. By her he had issue, (1), George Falconer, who succeeded him ; (2),
Jane Falconer, who married John Gillanders of Highfield, with issue;
and two other daughters, both named Margaret Bayne, who died young.
He married, secondly, Barbara, daughter of George Gillanders first of
Highfield, relict of John Bowman, an East India merchant in London,
without issue. He died in 1812, and was succeeded by his only son,
IV. GEORGE FALCONER MACKENZIE, who was, in 1829, served male
heir to his ancestor, the Honourable Simon Mackenzie of Lochslinn, and
heir male in general to Simon's father, Kenneth, first Lord Mackenzie of
Kintail, as also to Lord Kenneth's brother, Colin, first Earl of Seaforth.t
* See Marriage Contract, Allangrange Charter Chest.
t The following gentlemen composed the jury in the Allangrange Service: Sir
James Wemyss Mackenzie of Scatvrell, Bart., M.P. ; Sir Francis Alexander Mackenzie
of Gairloch, Bart. ; Coli* Mackenzie of Kilcoy, advocate ; William Mackenzie of Muir-
ton, W.S. ; Alexander Mackenzie of Millbank ; Hugh Ross f Glastullich ; Aleiauder
Mackenzie of Woodside ; Simon Mackenzie-Kosg, younger of Aldie ; Hugh James
Cameron, banker, Dingwall ; Alexander Gair, banker, Tain ; John Mackenzie, David
ROM, Hugh Leslie, William Fraser, and Donald Stewart, the last five, writers in Tain.
208 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
He matriculated his arms accordingly in the Public Register of the Lyon
Office of Scotland, and on the 9th of January 1828, married Isabella Reid
Fowler, daughter of James Fowler of Eaddery and Fail-burn, in the
County of Ross, and Grange in Jamaica, and by her had issue, (1), John
Falconer, who succeeded him; (2), James Fowler, now of Allangrange ; (3),
George Thomas, married Ethel Newman in London ; (4), Sophia Catharine,
died young ; and (5), Anna Watson. He died in 1841, and was succeeded
by his eldest son,
V. JOHN FALCONER MACKENZIE, Avho died, unmarried, in 1849, and
was succeeded by his next brother,
VI. JAMES FOWLER MACKENZIE, now of Allangrange, Chief of the
Mackenzies, and heir male to the dormant honours of the ancient family
of Kintail and Seaforth. He is yet, 1879, unmarried.
The Honourable Simon Mackenzie of Lochslinn had three other
sons by the first marriage Thomas, first of Logic ; John, first of Inch-
coulter, or Balcony ; and Colin, Clerk to the Privy Council and Com-
missioner in Edinburgh. Issue of all three extinct.*
THE OLD MACKENZIES OF DUNDONNELL.
THE Honourable Simon Mackenzie of Lochslinn, fourth son of Kenneth,
first Lord Mackenzie of Kintail, married, secondly, in 1650, Agnes,
daughter of William Fraser of Culbokie, relict of Alexander Mackenzie
of Ballone, brother of Sir John Mackenzie of Tarbat. Failing the line
of Allangrange, all the male issue of the Honourable Simon Mackenzie
by his first marriage will have become extinct, when the Chiefship must
be looked for among the descendants of his second marriage with Agnes
Fraser, as above.
By this marriage the Honourable Simon Mackenzie had issue, Ken-
neth Mor, who became first of Glenmarksie and Dundonnell, and two
daughters. The eldest daughter, Isobel, married Murdoch Mackenzie,
sixth of Fail-burn, with issue ; and the other, Elizabeth, married the Rev.
Roderick Mackenzie, laird and minister of Avoch, grandson of Sir
Roderick Mackenzie, Tutor of Kintail, with issue John, second of Avoch,
forfeited for having taken part in the Rising of 1715 ; several other
sons, all of whom, except Roderick, predeceased their father, and four
daughters; (1), Christian, married Sir Kenneth Mackenzie of Scatwell;
(2), Isobel, married Alexander Matheson of Bennetsfield ; (3), Margaret,
married John Macrae of Dornie ; and (4), Anne who married the Rev.
Lewis Grant.
I. KENNETH MOR MACKENZIE had the lands of Glenmarksie, and, in
1690, acquired the lands of Dundonnell from the Mackenzies of Redcastle.
He afterwards acquired the lands of Meikle Scatwell, of which he had a
Sasine, in 1693. He married Annabella, daughter of John Mackenzie first
of Gruinard, by whom he had issue (1), Kenneth, his heir ; (2), Alexander,
of whom nothing can be traced ; (3), Colin Riabhach of Ardinglash, who
married Annabella, daughter of Simon Mackenzie of Logie, issue extinct;
(4), Simon, of whom nothing is known ; (5), Barbara, who married Alex-
ander second of Ballone, with issue; (6), Sibella, who married John
* See FiucUm's Genealogical Tables and the Allangraage Service,
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 209
Mackenzie second of Ardloch, with issue; and (7), Annabella, who married
James Mackenzie of Keppoch, in Lochbroom, brother of Ardloch, with
issue. Kenneth Mor was succeeded by his eldest son,
II. KENNETH MACKENZIE, second of Dundonnell, Avho married Jean,
daughter of the Chisholm of Chisholm, by whom he had (1), Kenneth, his
heir ; (2), Alexander, a Captain in the 73d Eegiment, who died in 1783 ;
and (3), John, who married Barbara, daughter of Mackenzie of Ardloch,
with issue, several sons, who died young, and two daughters, one of
whom married Alexander Mackenzie of Eiabhachan, Kishorn, with issue.
He was succeeded by his eldest son,
III. KENNETH MACKENZIE, who married, in 1737, Jean, daughter of
Sir Kenneth Mackenzie, first Baronet of Scatwell, by whom he had (1),
George, his successor; (2), Kenneth, a W.S.,died in 1790 ; (3), William, an
Episcopalian Minister, with issue; (4), Eoderick, with issue; (5), Alex-
ander, a Captain in the army, who died in India, without issue ; (6), Simon,
a Captain, who married, and died in Nairn in 1812 ; and (7), Lewis, also
a Captain, who died in India. A daughter, Janet, married, in Jamaica,
Colin Mackenzie, brother to George Mackenzie of Kildonan, Lochbroom.
She died in 1783. Another daughter, Isabe.Ua, died unmarried. Ken-
neth's wife died in 178G. He died in 1789, and was succeeded by his
eldest son,
IV. GEORGE MACKENZIE, who married Abigail, daughter of Thomas
Mackenzie, fifth of Ord, by whom he had (1), Alexander, who died young ;
(2), Kenneth, who succeeded his father ; (3), Thomas, who succeeded his
brother Kenneth ; and (4), Jane, who married the Rev. Dr Eoss, min-
ister of Lochbroom, with issue. George was succeeded by his eldest
surviving son,
V. KENNETH MACKENZIE, who, in 1817, married Isabella, daughter
of Donald Roy of Preeton, without issue. He left the estates to his
brother-in-law, Robert Roy, W.S., who lost it after a long and costly
litigation with
VI. THOMAS MACKENZIE, second surviving son of George, fourth of
Dundonnell, and next brother of Kenneth. The estate was ruined
by law expenses, and had to be sold. It was purchased by Murdo
Munro-Mackenzie of Ardross, grandfather to the present proprietor,
Murdo Mackenzie of Dundonnell. (See Mackenzies of Ardross.)
Thomas Mackenzie, sixth and last of the old Mackenzies of Dun-
donnell, married Anne, eldest daughter of Alexander Mackenzie, sixth of
Ord, and by her had issue (1), George Alexander, born in Ceylon, 10th
July 1818, and married Louisa, daughter of Captain Stewart, Ceylon Rifles,
without issue ; (2), Thomas, who went to California, and of whom no
trace ; (3), John Hope, now residing at Tarradale, Ross-shire, married, in
Ceylon, Louisa, daughter of Captain Stewart, and relict of his deceased
brother, George Alexander, without issue ; (4), a daughter, Helen, married
the Honourable Justice Charles Stewart, in Ceylon, without issue j and
(5), Isabella, who resides in Elgin, unmarried.
210 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
OUE GAELIC BIBLE.
IV.
COULD THE HIGHLANDERS OF 1807 READ IT?
" THE late publication of the Bible, in Gaelic, in a portable form, and at a
very moderate price, and which those who cannot afford to purchase, may
procure for nothing, has led many to inquire if the natives of the High-
lands and Islands are very generally capable of making use of it." Such was
the opening sentence of the first circular letter issued, on 27th December
1810, by the committee of the promoters of the Gaelic School Society.
Before proceeding further with our history of the Gaelic Bible, and of the
process of change and growth, so to speak, by which it reached its present
form, it will be well to turn aside for a moment, and repeat the same in-
quiry. As we saw last month, no fewer than 40,000 copies of the Gaelic
Scriptures were printed in 1807 for the use of the Scottish Gael ; 20,000
by the Society in Scotland for Propagating Christian Knowledge, who,
with much labour and expense, had prepared the translation ; and 20,000
by the British and Foreign Bible Society in London, who, as regards the
cares and expense of translation, may almost be said to have entered into
the labours of the sister Society.
But to what extent could it be said that the people for whose use this
good work had been executed were sufficiently educated, especially in the
reading of Gaelic, to profit by the inestimable boon ?
Our search for the materials of an accurate reply to that question has
been productive of more than the needful information. It has brought to
our knowledge a vast mass of material, illustrative of the educational con-
dition of the Highlands from 1600 down to the early years of the present
century, on which we offer no apology for making much larger drafts
than a bare answer to the question just asked would either require or
permit. Indeed it may be well to state at once that this paper deals but
remotely with the " Gaelic Bible," and mainly concerns itself with the
general subject of
EARLY EDUCATION IN THE HIGHLANDS.
Before the Eeformation it does not appear that in Scotland the educa-
tion of the common people was ever, in any sense, a matter of State con"
cern. But from early times the importance to the nation of an educated
ruling class did not escape recognition. Thus it happened that as early as
1496 it was enacted that all barons and freeholders, under a penalty of
20, should put their eldest sons to school till they were competently
grounded in Latin, after which they were obliged to study law for three
years.
The General Assembly of 1597 gave to the state of the Highlands
and Islands an amount of enlightened consideration from which great
results might have been expected, were it not for the miserable embroglio
of folly and wrongdoing with which James VI. compensated his native
land for his corporeal absence in England. The condition of Scotland
during the reign of this priggish, pig-headed monarch was truly deplor-
able. The hereditary feuds to which he found it a prey at the commence-
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 211
mont of his reign were unspeakably aggravated and embittered by his
absurdly pedantic and truculent rnisgovernment. Unblushing greed, un-
tamed ferocity, fiendish revenge, all licensed and protected at the cheap
expense of unlimited flattery, tilled the land with misrule and oppression ;
while ever and anon the people were ' startled with some new caprice,
some wild fantastic antic, of the King's paradoxical vanity and wrong-
headedness the personal rule run mad at whose grotesqueness we
might well laugh, were not its meanness, or its cool remorseless cruelty,
more likely to make us blush for shame or burn with indignation. The
flood of ecclesiastical pitch, emptied on the bosom of his mother-land,
from " the fountain of honour" by this " defender of the Faith," we for-
bear to touch. For at its best it was very unsavoury, and it is still hot
enough to burn unwary fingers. That burn over Scotland's heart is not
yet sufficiently healed to admit of the crust being removed, and the red
scar mollified with ointment.
In times more recent than the seventeenth century, ecclesiastical con-
fusion necessarily implied educational disorganisation. But the civil and
social state of the Highlands in the reign of James VI., even if there ex-
isted no ecclesiastical hindrances, made the education of the people practi-
cally impossible. The merest glance at the history of the times yields
ample proof that it was so. Think, for example, of the king's wild
scheme for civilising the Western Isles by an invasion of Fifeshire
farmers and fishermen, who, not so much by arms as by fomenting the
basest treachery in families, and instigating to fratricide and murder, were
to drive out the islanders and their chiefs as they would, to use his own
words, " so many wolves and wild boares." Think of the later expedition
in his name by Lumsden of Airdrie and Hay of JSTethercliff, by means of
the like treachery and bloodshed, to "colonise" the Lews. Or look at
that edifying spectacle : the Catholic Earl of Huntly higgling with the
king, whether for ten thousand pounds Scots, the price demanded by the
royal and saintly bloodseller, or for four hundred, he could buy the
privilege of letting loose the claymores of Badenoch to convert to the
true Protestant faith " the barbarians" of Uist, Harris, Barra, and Benbe-
cula. Or turn to the cruel feuds of the Colc[uhouns and the Campbells
with the Macgregors, and the treacherous murder of the Macgregor Chief
in cold blood, and by prostituted forms of law, with seven of his lieuten-
ants, soon to be followed by the wholesale slaughter of his clan. Or take
that outrageous episode in the Synod of Perth, when the infuriated Lord
of Scone, as the King's Commissioner to the Synod, " roaring, gesticulat-
ing, protesting, and blaspheming" over the praying moderator, upset
in his rage the table around which the worshippers were kneeling, and
covered their persons and stifled their devotions with the green cloth
from the overturned table. Or, in fine, weigh the significance of such
daily occurrences as the banishment of the godly Eobert Bruce to Inver-
ness, and the public-spirited bailie, "William Rigg, to some outlandish
place in Caithness, just as the pious head of the Holy Eastern Church,
who is also Emperor of Russia, would bundle off a brace of obnoxious
subjects to Siberia. What conceivable scheme of popular education
could be originated or carried out in such a state of national confusion ?
And yet to that period we owe the formal enactment of the scheme of.
212 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
national education which has been well called the crown of Scotland's
glory. A school in every parish was the cherished idea of John Knox.
But it remained for the Privy Council of James VI. to embody that
grand idea in an Act. This was done in 1616. For more than a hundred
years, however, the Act was in the Highlands at least a dead letter. It
proceeds on the following narrative: "For samikle as the King's Ma-
jestie, having a special care and regard, that the true religion be advanced
and established in all partis of this Kingdom, and that all his Majestie's
subjects, especially the youth, be exercised and trayned in civilitie, godli-
ness, knowledge, and learning ; and that the vulgar Ingleshe toung be
universallie planted, and the Irishe language, which is one of the chieii
and principall causes of the continuance of barbaritie and incivilitie,
among the inhabitants of the Isles and Heylandis, may be abolished and
removit. And whereas there is no means more powerful to further this
his Majestie's princelie regard and purpose, than the establishing of
schools in the particular paroches of this Kingdom, whair the youth may
be taught at the least to write and reid, and he catechised and instructed
in the grounds of religion. Therefore the King's Majestie, with advise
of the Lords of his Secret Council, has thought it necessar and expedient
that, in every paroch of this Kingdom, quhair convenient means may be
had for intertayning a scoole, a scoole sail be established." Afterwards
confirmed and modified by Parliament in 1633, 1646, and 1696, this
enactment, after the clays of James, was attended with most beneficial
effects in many parts of the Kingdom. But in the Highlands and Islands,
as we have seen, it long remained a dead letter. The clause last quoted
of the Act, it will be observed, is so expressed as practically to anticipate
our modern invention of a " permissive bill." The Act was to come into
force only "quhair convenient means may be had for intertayning a scoole."
And its avowed intention to supplant at once the language of the High-
land people and their ancient religion, must have arrayed against it their
strongest prejudices, even where the excuse of their poverty could not be
pleaded. In point of fact, the poverty of the Highlands in these times is
undoubted. Not only was money scarce, but famines and actual starva-
tion were of common occurrence. And thus the number of parishes,
"quhair convenient means" could not be found " for intertayning a scoole"
must have been great. To obviate this undoubted difficulty some weak
attempts Avere made to nibble timidly at the fringe of the rich embroidered
pall which the barons and landowners had snatched from the coffin of the
ancient Eoman Church, and, rending it roughly asunder, had parted be-
tween them for their own adornment. Thus, in 1690, one year after
the Eevolution, vacant stipends within the Synod of Argyle were
ordained to be applied, " with the consent of the heritors, for training
young men at schools and colleges, as a necessary means for planting
and propagating the gospel, and for introducing civility and good
order into that country." In furtherance of the same end William
III. gave to the same Synod, in 1696, a grant of the rents of the
Bishopric of Argyle. In the same year the king gave also a grant
of 150 a year out of the rents of the Bishoprick of Dunkeld, for
erecting schools and schoolmasters' houses, and for the better endowment
of schoolmasters " in the Highlands of the shires of Perth, Stirling, and
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 213
Dumbarton." But in the three cases the proverbial " slips 'twixt cup and
lip " intervened as usual between the schoolmaster and the king's bene-
ficent purpose, which somehow " was in great measure defeated."* In
the same year the king erected a school in Maryburgh, now Fort-William,
with a salary of 30 sterling ; but in a few years the salary was with-
drawn and the school was given up.
Such was the unhappy state of education in the Highlands when, in
1701, a few private gentlemen in Edinburgh, " who usually met as an
association for the reformation of manners," agreed to use their endeavours
to remedy these evils, and in the endeavour formed the first modest begin-
ning of that great Society whose name occurs so often in these papers. The
first experience of these gentlemen showed how great were the difficulties
and how powerful the prejudices, which they essayed to combat. The
requisite funds were readily provided by voluntary subscription. But
they soon found that a force more powerful than poverty was at work to
keep the School Act of 1616 a dead letter in the Highlands. This is the
short history of the Society's first school : " Part of the money was
applied towards the erection of a school in the parish of Abertarph, in
Inverness-shire, being the centre of a country where ignorance and Popery
did greatly abound ; but the schoolmaster met with such discouragements
from the inhabitants that, after a trial of a year and a-half, it was found
necessary to suppress the school. "t " Not disheartened," however, " by
so inauspicious an event, the original contrivers of this design extended
their views to the plantation of schools in other parts of the Highlands."
" They published a memorial (1703) setting forth the disorders in those
countries, and proposing various methods for redressing them, chiefiy
by promoting religion and virtue ; they likewise pointed out how funds
might be raised for those ends from vacant stipends, a general collection,
and private subscriptions and mortifications. Copies of this memorial
were dispersed among the members of the Scottish Parliament, and the
draught of a bill for rendering effectual the scheme therein suggested, was
prepared, but never passed into an Act."J
"While thus it was evident that the Scottish Parliament would hear
of nothing that implied the disgorging of ever so small a portion of the
ill-gotten spoils of its members, it is gratifying to observe that the Gene-
ral Assembly very heartily took up the matter. In 1704 an Act of
Assembly was passed, " recommending a contribution " for the purposes
above-mentioned. In 1706 the Commission of Assembly was instructed
to " inquire how the Highlands and Islands were provided with schools,
what places did most need them, and what encouragement might be ex-
pected by those who were inclined to form a Society for maintaining
charity schools in those countries;" and, in 1707, the Assembly "ap-
pointed a select committee to consider this matter, who, after several
conferences " with the promoters of the scheme, " published proposals for
propagating Christian knowledge in the Highlands and Islands of Scot-
land, and in foreign parts of the world." The result was eminently
* An Account of the Society for Propagating Christian Knowledge, p. 3. Edin-
burgh 1774.
t An Account. &c.. p. 4.
Ibid.
214 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
satisfactory. From the old endowments of the Church, now firmly
clutched by the nobles and landowners, not a shilling could, of course, be
obtained. But " Her Majesty Queen Anne was graciously pleased to
encourage the design by her royal proclamation" (1708); and, in 1709,
on the funds from church collections and voluntary subscriptions exceeding
the goodly amount, for the times, of 1000 sterling, she granted letters-
patent, under the great seal of Scotland, for erecting certain of the sub-
scribers into a corporation.
Thus was founded the great religious and educational charity, the first
of all our countless similar societies in Scotland, whose name, in addition
to many other inestimable blessings to the Highlands, will ever be
honourably associated with the translation of the Holy Scriptures into
the tongue of the Scottish Gael. In 1711, their capital now amounting
to 3700, the directors of the Society settled a school in the lone isle of
St Kilda, with a salary of 300 merks (16 13s 4d). In the same year
they resolved to erect "eleven itinerant schools, which, in order to be
more extensively useful, should be stationed by turns in the places fol-
lowing : One in Abertarph ; two in the Highlands of Aberdeenshire, in
and about the Braes of Mar, on the heads of the rivers Don and Dee ; a
fourth in the boundsof the Presbyteryof Sutherland; a fifth in the parishes
of Duirness and Farr, in the Presbytery of Caithness ; a sixth in the Pres-
bytery of Skye ; a seventh in some part of the Duke of Athole's High-
lands, which should be specified by his Grace ; the eighth in the parish
of Glenelg ; the ninth in the south isles and continent of Orkney ; the
tenth in the north isles thereof; and the eleventh in the isles and conti-
nent of Zetland."* The schoolmasters of the eight schools first named
were to have each a salary of 300 merks and the other three of only 150
nierks " until the Society's stock should be increased." The teachers
were to remain for at least two years in the same station, and their circu-
lation in their several districts was to be determined, "on proper infor-
mation," by a committee of the Society. This committee was also em-
powered to provide school buildings, to appoint teachers, and furnish " a
sufficient number of Bibles, New Testaments, Proverbs, Catechisms, &c.,"
for the schools. In 1712, five of these eleven schools were already in
operation ; next year there were twelve schools ; and two years later
twenty-five.
In 1717 the Society represented to the General Assembly that "in
many places where the Society's schools are settled, there are no parochial
schools, as provided by law, by which means it so happens, that the
Society's schools serve only to ease the heritors and parishioners of the
burden imposed on them by statute." The General Assembly of the
same year " remitted the said matter to a committee," on whose report, in
1719, the Assembly passed an act " recommending to the several Presby-
teries and Synods to carry into execution the powers vested in them by
the Acts of Parliament in that case made and provided." In the same
year the Assembly gave the Society 742 9s 7d, and also renewed
former recommendations in favour of its benevolent and patriotic objects.
At this time the Society's capital had grown to 8168, and the number
* Society's minutes.
THE CELTIC MAGAZIKE. 215
of schools, from 25 three years before to 48. The year 1825 witnessed
the beginning of what has ever since been known as the Royal Bonnty,
in a donation to the General Assembly by King George I. of 1000, to
be employed for the " reformation of the Highlands and Islands and other
places where Popery and ignorance abound,"
Balked in their design to procure an endowment for schools out of the
secularised wealth of the disendowed and disestablished Roman Church,
the friends of education in Scotland were now looking for money in
another direction. They claimed a share of the forfeited estates of de-
capitated or fugitive Jacobites. In this movement the Society took an
eager interest. Its minutes teem with resolutions, reports, and volumi-
nous memorials on the subject. When the Act 1, George L, cap. 54, was
passed " for the more effectual securing of the peace in the Highlands of
Scotland," the Society was at great pains in furnishing His Majesty's
Commissioners with all needful information for their report, That report
stated that 151 schools, exclusive of those already established, were
absolutely necessary in the Highlands. Through information furnished
by the Society the Commissioners were enabled to embody in their re-
port a minute specification of the circumstances, and a " geographical
description" of each of these 151 stations, where schools were most
urgently needed. The amount required for the support of these schools
was stated at 3000 per annum. Following on this report came the Act
4, Geo. I., cap. 8, which provides that out of the monies arising from
the sale or rents of the forfeited estates, a capital stock of 20,000 be
appropriated " towards erecting and maintaining schools in the Highlands
of Scotland."
To secure the proper application of the money thus appropriated by
Parliament, the Society used its utmost efforts and influence. It made
repeated applications to the members of both Houses of Parliament for an.
Act directing the manner in which the 20,000 should be applied to the
purposes to which it had been appropriated, and they even approached
His Majesty by petition on the subject. But the result was only another
experience of the difficulty of securing the application of " forfeited" funds
to any useful public purpose. This was to the Society a great disappoint-
ment and sore discouragement, which was shown by withdrawing all its
schools on or near the forfeited estates. But in stead of despairing, it only
set itself more earnestly than ever to its pious and patriotic work. From
48 schools and a capital of 8168 in 1719, its progress in 1728 had
reached 78 schools, with 2757 scholars, though its capital was still not
more than 9131 15s 9d. In 1733 the Society had 111 schools, and a
capital of 14,694. In 1738, with the view of "curing that habit of
idleness too prevalent in the Highlands," the Society obtained its "second
patent," whereby it was empowered to instruct poor children " in hus-
bandry, trades, and manufactures." This new enterprise resulted in a few
salaried smiths, carpenters, millers, shoemakers, and other mechanics,
being sent down to different parts of the Highlands ;* but the scheme
* There were schools for (1), agiiculture in Callander ; (2), flax-dressing, weaving,
spinning, &c., at Portsoy ; (3), for linen manufacture at Logierait ; (4), agriculture
and gardening at Craig, near Montrose ; (5), a blacksmith, shoemaker, cartwright,
and ploughman at Lechcarron, in conjunction with the Board of Fisheries and
216 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
speedily fell through, and survives only in the form of schools for sewing
and knitting. March 8, 1739, is memorable for a minute to the effect
that Alexander Macdonald, one of the Society's schoolmasters (Mac
Mhaighstir Alasdair), by recommendation of the Presbytery of Lorn, had
composed a Gaelic and English vocabulary, printed for the use of the
schools ; the first schoolbook, so far as we can learn, that ever was printed
in Scotch Gaelic. In 1748, the schools were 140, and the capital, by
careful management, had grown to 22,237. In the same year it is re-
corded that Joseph Darner, Esq., an Irish gentleman, besides a donation
to the funds of the Society, was at the expense of translating and printing
1000 copies of Baxter's Call in Gaelic. In 1753 the schools were 152,
and the stock 24,308. In 1758 the Mother's Catechism was translated
into Gaelic, and published by the Society for use in its schools. In the
same year it is recorded that the Society, " finding that all endeavours
used by them for having parochial schools settled in every parish, had
hitherto proved ineffectual, and that no fewer than 175 parishes, within
the bounds of 39 Presbyteries, where the Society's schools were erected,
have no parochial schools, represented this matter to the General Assembly;
who, having taken the same into consideration, made an act, appointing
the several Presbyteries to inquire, whether or not a parochial school is
established in every parish in their bounds, and where such schools are
wanting, to make application to the Commissioners of Supply, in terms
of law ; and also appointing the Procurator and Agent of the Church, at
the public charge, to carry on all processes necessary for that purpose."
The peremptory character of this act is in marked contrast to the mere
" recommendation" of that of 1719.
Thus, by the labour of the schoolmaster, who in most cases was also
the Christian missionary, was the Society for Propagating Christian
Knowledge preparing the untutored Highland people of these rude, un-
settled times to enter with intelligence on the heritage of God's Word in
their native tongue, the history of whose preparation has occupied us in
the three previous papers of this series. How far the education thus im-
parted was really effectual in fitting the Highlander to read the Gaelic
Bible, which, in 1807, was placed freely at his disposal, is an inquiry
which must still be postponed to a future paper.
While correcting the proof of this paper I cannot help being struck
with the great extent of quoted matter which it contains. And yet this
quoted matter has cost me much more labour than that which is original.
But where the page is most speckled with the inverted commas of quota-
tion it is hoped that the thoughtful reader will not find the least of real
historic interest. At all events the quotations are the fruit of a search
whose labour has to the searcher not been devoid of pleasure. For not a
little of this pleasure he desires to acknowledge his indebtedness to Mr
James Grant of the Historical Department of the General Register House,
the learned author of the History of the Burgh Schools, and Mr Donald
Macpherson of the Advocates' Libraiy.
Manufactures ; aad (6), a smith and a gardener at Glenmoriston. A legacy for the
purposes named in this second patent was applied partly in " buying wheels and reels,
to be distributed in different places, and partly iu putting out promising lads " from the
Society's schools as apprentices to tradesmen and manufacturers. In this way " many
young women have been taught to spin, and many young men have been initructed in
various branches of trade and manufacture."
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 217
Will the readers of the Celtic Magazine allow me to submit to them
a practical suggestion, which I think of some importance ? Why should
not the work of which this episode in our history of the Gaelic Bible is
but a hasty and accidental specimen be gone about in a deliberate and
systematic way ? My somewhat promiscuous search for the materials of
this paper has led me into vast quarries of precious historical matter,
which a fire, such as raged the other day among the oldest records of the
student life of our University, may any day put for ever beyond our
reach 1
Let us then have some sort of new SPALDING CLUB to look after these
records of the past, which are fast mouldering to decay. They are not
dead though buried : they are dumb only because the dust and rubbish
of years sit heavily on their lips : clear this away and their mouth will
discourse wonderful things of the bygone days and ways of our people.
DONALD MASSON, M.A., M.D.
IAN" MACTAYISH.
NESTLING in a beautiful and secluded glen, sheltered by the surrounding
hills, near the picturesque Loch Riven in Strathnairn, might be seen, dur-
ing the latter part of the seventeenth century, a small, yet comfortable
homestead. The exceptional tidiness of the outhouses, the cleanliness of
the cottage, and the evident attention bestowed upon the garden, plainly
indicated that its occupant was a man of very different habits and tem-
perament to the great majority of his fellow countrymen of that period.
In fact, Ian Roy Mactavish was a man far in advance of his age in his ideas
of political economy, though doubtless he was innocent of the meaning
of the term. While the rest of the clan were thinking of nothing but
fighting and destroying, preferring to raid into other territories for their
supplies of cattle and forage, leaving their own land untilled and unpro-
ductive, Ian chose this, the most secluded and fertile spot he could find,
built his cottage, planted his garden, sowed his crops, and brought home his
young wife, Jessie, desiring to live at peace with all men. Little more than
a year had elapsed in the most perfect happiness and security, when the
summit of lau's felicity was reached by becoming the proud father of a
fine healthy boy. His wife was attended to on the auspicious occasion,
by an elderly woman, Janet Macdougall, a noted character in the district,
her fame having spread far and wide, as a successful midwife, or "howdie."
Having also an extensive knowledge of the medicinal properties of herbs,
combined with great experience and shrewdness, she was universally applied
to in cases of accident or illness such a personage as a doctor being
then unknown in the Highlands. Janet was a remarkable-looking woman,
a tall spare figure, slightly bowed with advancing years, a pale, grave
face, in which care and sorrow had drawn many a wrinkle, expressive
a
218 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
black eyes, fearless and bright when work was to be done, but which, in
moments of repose, wore a sad, far-away, and eerie look. No one knew
her age, and few her history, which, though humble, had been tragic.
She was once a happy wife and mother, but her husband had fallen,
claymore in hand, and face to the foe ; her dwelling was burnt over her
head, and herself and children were turned adrift helpless and alone on
an iinsympathetic world. By the time when she came to Strathnairn she
was childless as well as widowed, and she ever after remained the same
lonely woman, devoting her time and attention to the physical wants of
those around her, in the capacity of midwife and general physician for the
district. She was treated with considerable respect, combined with no
little amount of awe, for she was popularly believed to be a Saibhscar, or
gifted with second-sight, and many were the wonderful tales related of
her visions and their strange fulfilment.
It was the afternoon of a fine autumn day, the parting rays of the
declining sun illumined and beautified the scene, and played on the
wavelets of the loch, till the water looked like molten gold, shining on
the heather-clad hills, till they appeared crowned with a halo of many-
coloured glory. Ian was engaged tending his cows, quietly grazing by
the side of the loch, and chewing the cud with that air of placid content-
ment so characteristic of these docile animals when well cared for. Mac-
tavish being an industrious man was enjoying himself and utilising his
time fishing, as well as tending his cattle, which he could easily do with
the valuable assistance of his faithful and well trained collie. As he
angled in the loch or glanced at his herd, he felt supremely happy, free
from any anxiety about his beloved \vife, now so far convalescent, that
Janet was leaving them that same day. He mused with pleasure on the
thought of his infant son, IIOAV he would train him up with the same ideas
as his own, that he might prove a blessing to him in his old age. These
agreeable meditations were suddenly interrupted by old Janet, who had
left the cottage and came to bid him farewell. While thanking her for
her kind attention to his wife, he was struck with astonishment at the
change that came suddenly over her countenance. She stood and looked
earnestly in his face, her grey head bent forward, with a pair of staring
eyes, which appeared to look through and beyond him, as it were, while
her face became deadly white and drawn up as if with pain. For a moment
or two she stood thus ; then, with a low moan, she removed her fixed
gaze, and trembling violently, sat down on the grass, moaning and
lamenting, " Ochan ! ochan ! sad and sorry am I to see such a sight, and
the poor young creature with the dear babe, what will she do, alas, alas."
Ian was quite unable to comprehend what ailed her, and begged her to
explain what was the matter. This Janet appeared most unwilling at
first to do, continuing to lament to herself in half-broken sentences of
which Mactavish could make no sense. When she became more com-
posed she asked him if he had an enemy, from whom he had any reason
to dread violence. He assured her that, to the best of his knowledge, he
had no personal enemy, at the same time asking an explanation of her
strange behaviour. Being so urgently pressed, she told him that she
feared his life would not be a long one, for that she had a vision concerning
him, and " Oh," she continued, while her voice trembled, "Oh, Mactavish,
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 219
it will not be long before you are called, for I saw tlie death shroud
covering you up to your head, and ochan ! ochan ! there was a big rent in
it tco, which showed that it will be a violent death you will come to.
Indeed, I am extremely sorry for you and your poor young wife, but it's
too true, too true."
Mactavish was naturally startled and somewhat unnerved at this
dreadful communication, but being by no means so superstitious as most
of his countrymen, he soon rallied, and attempted to treat the matter
lightly. Janet, however, was not to be shaken in her belief, and, getting
annoyed at his incredulity, took leave of him and went on her way.
Mactavish resumed his sport, and tried hard to drive the ill-omened
prediction from his mind. The day waned, and the shades of evening
began to gather, throwing the valley into shadow, and making the hills,
now dark and dull, stand out in bold relief against the grey sky. Ian
had just succeeded in hooking a fine large fish, when a low growl from
his faithful collie caused him to look hastily around to discover the cause
of the dog's uneasiness. To his surprise and annoyance he observed a
large party of armed Highlanders approaching, driving before them a great
number of bl*ck cattle, whom he rightly conjectured were some of the
aliens, who then neld possession of the upper part of Stratherrick, return-
ing from a successiul foray. He felt vexed that they should have dis-
covered his retreat, but he apprehended no danger until he saw two or
three of the men detaching themselves from the rest, and beginning to
drive his own small herd away to swell their creach from the Southron.
In vain he ran and shouted, asking them to desist. It was by their
captain's orders, they said, so with hurried footsteps, his heart beating
with dread and burning with indignation, Ian approached the leader, and
demanded the restoration of his cattle. " Why," he exclaimed, " why
should you harry me ; I am no enemy of yours, and have never injured
any of you?"
" You are no friend of ours, and consequently good and fair game,"
answered the alien chief, a tall fierce-looking man, whose daring and
adroitness in planning and executing raids, had made his name well-known
and detested.
" But," pleaded Mactavish, " my few cows can make but little dif-
ference to you. You have already such a large booty, and these are all I
have, restore them and leave me in peace ; perhaps I may be able to do
you as good a turn another day."
" Stop your talking and stand out of my way, fellow, or it will be
worse for you," roughly answered the leader, at the same time pushing
Mactavish aside.
" Well then," persisted Ian in despairing tones, " at least leave me
one cow for the sake of my family, only one."
" No," roared the alien in a terrible voice, " not one, and if you hinder
me any longer I'll burn your house over your head, and scatter the ashes
to the four winds of heaven, and you and your family can dwell with the
wild fox, where you'll have no need of a cow ; take that, and hold your
tongue," and, suiting the action to the word, he finished this brutal speech
by giving Ian a back-handed blow in the face as he moved forward to pasa
him.
220 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
Such an insult was not to be tamely submitted to, and with an' inar-
ticulate cry of rage Mactavish darted forward, and, forgetting all prudence,
struck madly at the chief with his fishing hook, which he still held in his
hand. Before the blow could fall, however, one of the party interposed,
and with the ever ready dirk, stabbed Mactavish in the side.
"With a deep groan poor Ian sank on the purple heather, and without
halting to see if the wound was fatal, or even to draw the dirk out of it,
the aliens hurried on, grudging the time they had already spent over
what they considered but a very small affair.
" Alas !" moaned, poor Ian, as he lay helplessly on the ground, his life-
blood crimsoning the fragrant heather, till it seemed to blush for the foul
deed, and call aloud for vengeance against the cruel murderer, " alas, old
Janet spoke the truth, though little did I think her vision would so soon
come to pass. Woe is me, must I die here like a wild beast, with no
friendly hand to close my eyes or to wipe the dews of death from my brow.
My forefathers fought against the Keppochs, and fell gloriously on the
fields of Mavil Roy and Inverlair, but I shall die like the goat on the hill
top, and my flesh shall become the prey of the wild cats and the eagles.
My poor wife, my beloved Jessie, who will tell you of your husband's
death, who will speak words of comfort to the widow 1 ? Must I never see
you more ! never more see my darling boy ! My treasures of love and
hope, how can I die without seeing you once more ! Oh, mo ghaoil,
mo ghaoil, what have I done that I should be torn from your side, and
crushed like an adder under the foot of the stranger? Cursed be the hand
that struck me, may his arm wither and no, I will not curse, I leave
vengeance to a Higher Power, it may be that my son will yet avenge the
murder of his father,"
Here the attention of Mactavish was claimed by his faithful collie,
who had followed the cows for some distance, in the vain hope of turning
them back, and now exhibited the utmost distress at seeing his master in
such a sad condition, licking his hands and face, and whining and howl-
ing in the most dismal manner.
The sight of the dog roused in the dying man's breast such a longing
once more to reach his home and see its beloved inmates, that with an
energy born of despair, he rose to his knees, and with one arm resting
round the dog's neck, attempted to crawl towards his cottage.
His young wife was waiting and watching for his return, the usual
time of his coming arrived, but no Ian ; an hour passed ; Jessie wondered
what was keeping him, perhaps she thought one of the cows had strayed,
he would sure to be home soon now ; so she mended the fire and sat nursing
her baby, looking at him and discovering new charms, with the absorbed
attention and concentrated love of a young mother for her first born ; an-
other hour passed ; she began to get more anxious ; and laying the child
down, she went to the door and looked in every direction, but no sign
could she see of husband, cows, or dog. Perplexed and alarmed she knew
not what to do, or what to dread from this strange occurrence. There
was no one to advise her or to console with her.
In fear and anxiety she wandered aimlessly through the house, or
stood at the door watching in vain for the beloved form that would never
more hasten to me^ her. With troubled voice broken with sobs, she
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 221
called aloud again and again her husband's name. In vain ; in vain !
The night wind carried the sound away, and the cold pale moon looked
calmly down, as if in mockery of her passionate grief. The feeble cries
of her infant recalled her to the fireside, where she continued her weary
vigil until midnight, when, hark ! what was that 1 a scratching at the
door ! the pitiful whine of a dog ! Quickly she opens the door, and calls
the dog by name ; he bounds in, barks furiously, and catching hold of
her dress, attempts to draw her back again towards the door. She stoops
to pat him, his shaggy coat is covered with dew, but it is not dew that
leaves those dark footprints on the floor ; and what mark is this that he
leaves on her hand as he licks it 1 Ah ! horror ! it is blood ! gracious
heavens ! what has happened ? Overpowered with emotion she sinks
into a chair, but the honor of the night is not yet passed, her cup of
misery is not yet filled. The dog runs again to the door ; with the dull,
stony look of despair, she sees him re-enter, but who or what is it that
accompanies him ? A ghastly object, crawling slowly and painfully on
hands and knees, bedabbled with blood, with dishevelled hair hanging
over the deathly face; can this be her Ian 1 the stalwart, cheery man she
parted with a few hours back. Spell-bound with terror she stands
motionless, while slowly, painfully, the figure draws nearer her, with sad,
sorrowful eyes, over which the film of death is rapidly drawing, it gazes
on her, and essays to speak, but no sound comes from the parched lips.
With a great effort it seizes her hand in its cold clammy palm, and at the
touch the spell is broken. Jessie realizes that this is indeed her husband,
and with a terrible cry falls senseless to the ground.
Day was dawning before Jessie recovered from her swoon, and oh !
what a terrible awakening it was. As she slowly opened her eyes the
first object that met her gaze was the staring eyes of a corpse, and as con-
sciousness returned, she found her hand clasped by the cold stiff fingers
of her murdered husband.
When she collected her scattered senses, so rudely shaken by this aw-
ful event, and began to realize her great loss, she gave way to the most
extravagant grief, wringing her hands, tearing her hair, and beating her
breast, while uttering the most piercing cries, at one time apostrophising her
beloved one with every endearing term, while she bathed his cold face
with torrents of tears. Anon, with dry eyes and outstretched hand, she
would call down curses on the head of the perpetrator of the cruel deed,
and cry aloud for vengeance ; then again she would melt into lamentations.
" Oh Ian ! my love ! my love ! will you never speak to me more, shall I
never again see the love-light in your eye, or feel the warm pressure of
your lips, never, never, your eyes are fixed and your lips are cold in
death, and I am alive to see it ; oh ! would that I were dead, how shall
I live without you ? my husband, my first and only love."
The Availing cries of the neglected infant now recalled her attention
to it. " Cry on, poor babe," she exclaimed, " you little know the loss
you have sustained, never will you feel the watchful love and care of a
father. Ochan ! ochan ! I will cherish you that you may live to revenge
his untimely death ; see this dirk I draw from the gaping wound, see it
covered with the life-blood of your father, may you live my child, and
one day sheath it in the black heart of his murderer,"
222 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
As she became calmer she began to think what was best for her to do.
There was no dwelling within several miles, and besides, being in perfect
ignorance from whom, or for what cause, her husband had met his death,
she was afraid to go to strangers for help ; at last she concluded to go to
her father's house, where she would be sure of assistance.
Having, with many tears and choking sobs, performed the last sad
duties to the dead, she left the faithful dog in charge of his beloved
master, and taking her infant in her arms, set out on her long and lonely
journey.
"Wearily she plodded on, weak from her recent illness, and, borne
down with grief, she felt at times as though she must give up the attempt,
and lie down and die, but then the thought of her dead husband lying in
the desolate cottage would nerve her to make still another effort to obtain
assistance, and have his remains, properly interred. At length she
reached her father's house, and told her sad tale, which was listened
to with the greatest horror of the deed, and sympathy for herself. Her
father and some friends at once started to fetch the body of poor Mac-
tavish, and a sad, sad, sight it was for the young widow to see the funeral
cortege return. First came, with solemn tread, the piper, the mournful
wailing notes of the lament announcing the approach of the iuncral
party long before they came in sight; then came four strong young men
bearing on their broad shoulders the mortal remains of their murdered
friend. Behind followed Jessie's father and a large party of friends and
relatives, all armed with dirk and broadsword, for in those wild, unsettled
times they were never sure but they might be interrupted, even on such
a melancholy and peaceful errand as they were now engaged in.
The broken-hearted Jessie could not bear the ida of returning to her
cottage, where every object would constantly remind her of her bereave-
ment She therefore decided to remain with her father, and after the
furniture and plenishing had been removed, the cottage, which had been
built and furnished with such loving care, and bright hopes of happy
years to be spent in it, was left to ruin and decay, a striking monument
of the uncertainty of man's life and enjoyment.
Jessie called her boy Ian, after his father, and when he grew old
enough to understand her, she would talk to him by the hour together, of
his dead father, praising his virtues and deploring his untimely end. This
sort of conversation made a great impression upon the child's mind, end-
ing, as it usually did, by the dirk being shown to him encrusted with the
blood of his father.
Thus, his mother fired his imagination, and incited his young mind
to thoughts of revenge and retaliation. The dirk being the only clue
they had to the murderer, she gave it to young Ian when he was old
enough to wear it, and told him to always have it ready until he should
find the man, and sheath it in his heart. As he grew up, and his disposi-
tion and temper became more developed, it was seen that he was in tem-
perament the very opposite to his father. Bold and courageous, he
rather courted than shrunk from danger, Eestless and daring, he looked
with disdain upon the simple life of a husbandman. His ardent nature
made him burn to distinguish himself in deeds of warlike skill and daunt-
less courage. These qualities, combined with a hardy robust frame, and
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE, 223
very handsome features, made him conspicuous among his companions,
and attracted the attention of the Laird of Gorthlick, who was so taken,
with his appearance and manner, that he determined to save him from the
drudgery of a farmer's life, and give him a chance of pushing his fortunes
in a more congenial sphere. Ian was, accordingly, much to his own de-
light and to the satisfaction of his mother, admitted an inmate of the
castle, as a sort of confidential attendant or page to its master.
Here several years passed swiftly and happily ; young Mactavish daily
growing in the favour of his patron, who, having no son of his own, gra-
dually came to treat Ian as one, and took a great pride in seeing his
protege acquit himself so bravely in the frequent skirmishes they had
with the aliens, a large number of whom still held possession of the upper
part of Stratherrick, and were continually making raids on the neighbour-
ing territories. Evan Dubh, their captain, was a bold unscrupulous man,
somewhat advanced in years, but still full of energy and enterprise.
When our hero was about eighteen, his patron was called away with
the best part of his followers, to attend a grand meeting of the Clans, held
at some distance, and before leaving home, called young Mactavish, and
told him that he should leave him in charge at home, during his absence.
And young as he was, yet he had every confidence in his courage and
prudence, and not only left him in command of the men who remained
behind, but also entrusted to him the safe keeping of the castle; and,
most precious of all, the charge and safety of his only daughter, the lovely
Catharine, then just blooming into womanhood. lan's heart beat high at
the great honour paid to him by this signal proof of his Chief's confid-
ence, but especially at being considered worthy of being constituted the
guardian and protector of the beautiful and fascinating Catharine, whom
he had long worshipped at a distance, as if she were a superior being of
another world ; and now he was actually her guardian, and on him de-
pended her safety and well-being, until the return of her father. His brain
was in a whirl with ecstasy, and his heart thrilled with emotion, as a vision
of possible future bliss rose in his agitated breast. " If her father deems
me worthy of being her protector for a time, is it not just possible, if I do
my duty and deserve her, that I may be yet considered worthy of her for
life. Little need had he to urge me to watch over her carefully. I would
lay down my life at any moment to do her service."
Eor a few days after the Chief had left everything was quiet and se-
cure, and Ian began secretly to wish that some danger might arise to af-
ford him an opportunity of showing his devotion to the fair Catharine.
On the evening of the fifth day, however, the alarm was given at the
castle that a large party of the aliens, headed by the renowned captain,
Evan Dubh himself, was driving the cattle from their pasture, molesting
the men in charge of them, and threatening to attack the castle. Hastily
summoning his men, and bidding Catharine to keep close indoors and
have no fear, Mactavish, with his trusty band, rushed out to meet and
chastise the intruders. Evan Dubh, fully acquainted with the Chief's
absence from the castle, had expected an easy victory, and was consider-
ably taken aback by the sudden and impetuous onslaught of Ian, but,
noting the smallness of the defending body, he determined to give fight,
and recalling the men engaged in driving off the cattle, a regular pitched
224 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
battle ensued. The aliens largely outnumbered the defending party, and
for a time Ian seemed to be getting the worst of it, when Mactavish
signalling out the alien leader, worked his way to where he stood, hew-
ing doAvn every one who came in his way, A fearful hand-to-hand com-
bat took place between them. Evan Dubh was a strong built man, some-
what under the middle height, whose life had been spent in warfare.
With iron sinews, eagle eye, and a ready hand, which constant practice
had rendered perfect in the use of his weapon, he was a formidable oppo-
nent to the youthful Ian, who, however, never yet flinched. What he lacked
in weight, he made up by extra agility, and his want of experience was
compensated by his impetuosity and daring. His eye was quick, and his
courage as high as that of his enemy. Evan Dubh first looked with disdain
at the youthful appearance of Mactavish, and contemptuously exclaimed,
"Fall back, thou presumptuous stripling, ere I kill thee at one blow.
Wait till thy beard has grown before thou cross swords with me." lan's
only answer to this was a furious blow at Evan's head, which he parried
with difficulty, and he soon found that he had a foeman worthy of his
steel, boy though he was. The strife was severe, and the ultimate result
seemed doubtful, but the fiery energy and quick movements of Ian began
to tell on the older warrior, who, with labouring breath, gathered himself
together for a final blow, which he hurled with all his remaining strength
at the devoted Ian. The stroke descended with lightning-like rapidity,
but our hero quickly parried it, and, with a sudden thrust, wounded Evan,
who dropped on his knees, his broadsword falling from his nerveless
grasp. Dropping his own sword, young Ian drew his dirk, and springing
upon his opponent, bore him to the earth, and, holding his dirk before
the eyes of the prostrate man, demanded if he would now submit himself
as a prisoner, and save his life. Instead of replying, the wounded alien
glared with glazed eyes and horror-stricken look upon the blood-stained
dirk which Ian held before him.
" Do you yield ]" shouted Ian.
Still Evan Dubh answered not, but keeping his eyes fixed on the dirk,
muttered incoherently, " It is, it is, the same, my own. Many a year has
passed since last I used it ! N '
Mactavish losing patience, and fearing he should lose his advantage,
in the excitement of the moment, buried his dirk in the breast of his
antagonist. The blow did not prove immediately fatal, and, as Ian drew
it back from the dying man's breast, Evan seized his arm, and in faltering
tones, exclaimed "Where got ye that dirk? Well do I know it, long
have I carried it, and many a brave enemy has felt its point, and now it
has done for myself at last ! Ah, poor Mactavish, I left it embedded in
thy side, by the bank of bonnie Loch Eiven, which I am now doomed to
see no more." "What," cried Ian, in terrible excitement and rage, "what
did you say 1 Was it your hand that shed the innocent blood of my fa-
ther ? Speak ! speak ! you shall not die until you tell me :" and, in his
eagerness and passion, he violently shook the expiring alien, who faintly
replied, " Your father ! was that your father ? Ah, I see him. I remem-
ber him. Look ! he is pleading with our captain. Ah, ha ! he might as
well have asked mercy from the woll ! I see him now raise his arm to
strike fool, your father, he soon got his answer. And yet I wish I had
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 225
not killed him in that way. It was not a fair fight raise me up, I am
choking ; keep off Mactavish ! Why do you glare on me so 1 Give me
back my dirk ! I did not mean to kill you keep off ! away ! away !
Oh ! I did ." The feeble voice was choked, and with a deep groan,
Evan Dubh, who had hitherto never yielded to mortal man, succumbed to
the king of terrors, and, with one last convulsive struggle, his guilty spirit
took its flight.
It would be difficult to analyze lan's feelings as he saw the murderer
of his father expire by his own hand. Deteftation of the man became
mingled with gratified revenge, and awe at the presence of death in such
a fearful form, was mixed with a grim satisfaction that he had been able,
though unwittingly, to avenge the fate of his father.
The aliens., seeing their leader fall, became disheartened, and were soon
put to flight, followed by Mactavish and his men, who made most of
them kiss the sod with Evan Dubh.
Catharine met her youthful and brave champion at the door of the
castle with a veritable April face, smiles and tears struggling for the mas-
tery. She tried hard to command her feelings, and welcome him with a
proper dignity of demeanour, but her emotion on seeing him wounded
overcame all ceremony, and, seizing his hand, she exclaimed with fervour
" Thank heaven ! you have returned. I feared you would have been
killed, and then what would have become of me." Then, as if fearing
she had said too much, she turned and flew to her own apartment, send-
ing a parting glance from under her fringed eyelashes that thrilled through
and through the susceptible heart of Mactavish, and raised him to the
seventh heaven of enchantment.
When Ian related to his mother the strange manner in which he had
discovered the man for whom he had been looking all his life, and showed
her the dirk, now stained with the blood of the slayer of his father, as
well as that of the slain, the widow was satisfied that at long last her be-
loved husband was avenged, and that by the hand of her son ; and both
were still more pleased that Evan Dubh had met his death in fair fight,
and that lan's conscience was clear from bloodguiltiness.
On Eraser's return home, he was extremely pleased at the bold man-
ner in which Mactavish had met and defeated the raiders ; and when his
daughter, in glowing and eloquent terms, dwelt on the devotion and
heroism of young Ian, the old man soon guessed the secret which she
thought was yet safely locked in her own breast' ; and being well pleased
that her choice should be such a worthy one, he cheerfully agreed to
his daughter's proposed alliance, and left Ian to plead his own cause with
the maiden, which he, rendered eloquent by love, did to such good pur-
pose, that the marriage-day was soon fixed ; and, amid the congratula-
tions of friends, and the blessing of lan's widowed mother, the lovely
Catharine was led to the altar, a blushing bride, by the young and gal-
lant Ian Ban Mactavish.
M. A. ROSE.
226 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
THE CROFTER'S LAMENT.
Oh ! weep not, my Mary, thy tears give me anguish,
And break the proud spirit that dwells in my heart ;
Tho' doomed in the land of our fathers to languish,
Thy sorrow wounds more than our Fate can impart :
Ochon ! from our shieling we're ruthlessly driven,
And reft of our little with pitiless scorn,
The God of the homeless in merciful Heaven,
Shall surely give bread to his children forlorn;
Banished we'll weary roam,
Seeking another home,
And strangers shall wander where happiness dwelt,
Ruins shall mark the spot,
Where stood our lowly cot,
And silence shall tell of the wrongs we have felt.
Yon lordly oppressor may smile at our grieving,
And laugh at the tears which the helpless have shed ;
The wealth that he craves from injustice, is leaving
The withering curse of the poor on his head ;
No more shall the love of the humble give glory,
The hall of his sires is o'ershadowed with shame,
The winds from the mountains shall whisper the story,
That clings with dishonour around the old name :
Loveless for ever then,
Hateful to Highlandmen,
No beauty remains where cold avarice sways,
Heedless of love's reward,
Honoured with no regard,
All joyless the life where no tongue can give praise,
Ah ! weep not, my Mary, tho' now we are going
From all that we cherished for many long years ;
The grasp of the proud, tho' our sorrows bestowing,
Can crush not the love which is told in thy tears ;
Farewell, ye blue mountains ! ye mourners forsaken,
How oft have ye echoed the wails of the sad ;
Farewell, ye green valleys ! no more shall ye waken
The songs of the happy or shouts of the glad :
Ever in glow and gloom,
Telling of dool and doom,
Wild breathing the tale of your children opprest,
Crushed 'neath the Saxon's thrall,
Silent and sadly all,
We leave ye, but love ye for ever the best.
STJNDEBLAND. WM. ALLAN.
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 227
GENEALOGICAL NOTES AND QUERIES.
o
ANSWERS.
THE CUTHBERTS OF CASTLEHILL.
THE enquiry concerning the Cuthbert Family, which occurs among the
Genealogical Notes and Queries in the last Celtic Magazine, opens up a
somewhat lengthy subject, for this family seems to have occupied a promi-
nent position in this district for 300 years from the close of the 15th cen-
tury. The Great Seal Index contains a quantity of charters, and there are
Eegisters of Sasines and innumerable deeds in their favour during that long
period. There is frequent mention of the Cuthberts also in the Lovat
Charters ; while they appear to have intermarried with most of the neigh-
bouring families ; and Cuthberts were oftentimes Provosts of Inverness.
Their genealogy is given by an Act of Parliament of Scotland, vol. viii.,
James VII., A.D. 1686, entitled, "Warrant of Bore Brieve to Charles
Colbert of Seignelay." They had their rise in the South whither they
ultimately retired and their names are written both as Colbert and
Cuthbert ; the latter invariably in the North.
The following Memoir is extracted from a MS. volume in the Advo-
cates' Library, Edinburgh, entitled " Materials from a Baronage of Scot-
land":
" The family has held the Barony of Castlehill from the Crown of Scot-
land as a Royal feu, for services rendered, and for services to be rendered,
to the King. Other lands they held in vassalage from particular supe-
riors, such as the Town of Inverness, the Barons of Dacus, &c., as appears
from Charters granted by these. Also the lands of Drakies, Stonifield,
Mucovie, and other tenures.
" The representatives of the Castlehill family have always been called
by the Highlanders, " Maclrish " or MacGeorge. The armorial bearing
of the principal family is a Serpent erect, azure the former motto was
Perite et Rede ; but in 1411, a Cuthbert led the forces of the Town of
Inverness with the King's troops against Macdonald of the Isles, and for .
his behaviour at Harlaw there was added to his shield, a Fess Gules on a
field Or, and for a crest, a Hand in a gauntlet, holding a weapon like an
arrow, and the former words was added for motto, Nee minus Fortiter.
Two bay-coloured horses were granted him for supporters.
" The oldest Charter known of the family was by King James III. in
1478, of the lands of Auld Castlehill, to William Cuthbert, son to John,
and grandson of George, who had distinguished himself at Harlaw. The
next, by Mary, Queen of Scots, in 1548 to George, nephew and apparent
heifi of John Cuthbert of Castlehill, and to his heirs male. The family
has subsequently obtained other Charters, of which the most explicit is
that granted by King James VI in 1592, which was confirmed by King
Charles I. in 1625.
" The Bailiff of the family administered justice in the name of the
228 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
owner of the estate to his dependents, and representatives of the family
filled the offices of High Sheriff of Inverness and Eoss, Knights of the
Shire, &c. They were founders of a Chapel at Inverness, under the In-
vocation of St Cuthbert, which was afterwards destroyed by the Cal-
vinists. The family of Castlehill, however, has always preserved its right
of sepulture in the site of the old chapel.
"Cuthbert of Drakies, new Inverness, possessed also Loch Line (ILinnhe)
and Auchintua in Eoss. The branch was extinct by the death of George
Cuthbert of Drakies, who, having no issue, disposed of his property in
favour of Jams Cuthbert, second son of George of Castlehill, whose des-
cendants are in Georgia and South Carolina. Another branch is supposed
to have settled in Angus-shire, there being on record a Charter of the
lands of Eoscoby, near Forfar, to N. Coubert, A.D. 1588,
"The lands of Mains and Ochterton, in Aberdeenshire, were granted by
Charter to N. Cudbert, in 1610 ; those of Nether Cloquart in Perthshire,
to N. Cuthbert of Cloquart in 1634.
" The most considerable branch, however, of the family is in Cham-
pagne, in France, established there since the 13th century, when Nicolas
Cuthbert of COLBERT went from Scotland to France, and fixed his residence
near Eheims, where his tomb is to be seen in the Church of the Monks
of St Eemi ; with the inscription " Ci gist le preux chevalier Nicolas
Colbert, dit ly Ecossois : priez pour 1'ame de Ly." From this Nicolas
descended the great Jean Baptiste Colbert, ' le grand Colbert,' minister of
State to Louis XIV. He, and after him, his son, the Marquis of Seig-
nelay, sent to Scotland a request for their pedigree. The Bore-brief was
drawn up by George Cuthbert, Provost of Inverness, and presented to
the States of Scotland, in 1687.
I. JOHN CUTHBERT of Castlehill, when a youth, served in the Wars of
Sweden, under Gustavus Adolphus, 1630 ; and, on the death of
his General at Lutzen, returned to his estate, when he married N.
Cuthbert, a daughter of Cuthbert of Drakies, by whom he had a
son and nine daughters, who were mostly married to neighbouring
gentlemen.
II. GEORGE CUTHBERT, son of John, succeeded his father, and married
Magdalen, daughter of Sir James Fraser of Brae, niece to Lord
Lovat, by whom he had three sons and a daughter, Magdalen,
married to Hugh, fifteenth Baron of Kilravock, as third wiffe.
III. JOHN, the eldest, succeeded his father, and married Jean Hay, only
daughter of the Eight Eev. N. Hay of Dalgetty, last Bishop of
Moray ; by her he had four sons. (This lady appears as a claimant
on the Estate of Simon, Lord Lovat, in 1757, in the Frazerdale
case.)
IV. GEORGE, the eldest, succeeded his father, and married Mary Mac-
kintosh of Blairvie, a cadet of Holme. By her he had a great
many children, of whom eight were living at their father's death.
" John, the eldest, in the army. He served first as an officer in Hol-
land, in one of the Scotch-Dutch Regiments ; next, in the British army,
and was killed at the siege of Louisberg, where he fought under General
Wolff. He left no issue.
" James, the second son, went to South Carolina, where he died, leav-
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 229
ing an estate, a widow, and several children, who are now the representa-
tives of the family.
" Seignelay, the third son, after his father's death, went into France,
where he embraced the ecclesiastic state, and became Grand- Vicar of Tou-
louse, and afterwards Bishop of Rodez, and was appointed President of
the Provincial Assembly of the Haute Guyenne. In 1787 he was called to
the ' Assembly of Notables ' by the King ; after which he was deputed by
the Clergy of Rovergne to the States General at Versailles in 1789. Re-
fusing to take the Revolutionary oath, he was proscribed by the Party,
and took refuge in England.
" Lewis, the fourth son, went to Jamaica, where he became a Member
of the Legislative Assembly. The last Proprietor of the Cuthbert lands.
" LacJilan, the fifth son, was an officer of Artillery at Belle Isle, where
he received the thanks of the General Commanding. He died a few
years after (without issue) in France, whither he had gone on account of
his health.
" George, the youngest, went to Jamaica, where he became High Pro-
vost-Marshal. He died without issue.
" Madalen, eldest daughter of George, married Major James Johnstone,
65th Regiment. Issue, two sons and one daughter, viz. Robert, Cap-
tain 39th Foot ; died at Guadaloupe. George, Major 4th or King's Own
Infantry. Mary Ann, married Hon. Francis Grey, brother to Lord Grey,
a Major of the 1st battalion of Breadalbane Fencibles.
" Rachel, 2d daughter of George of Castlehill, married Simon Fraser of
Daltullich. Issue ; John, Alexander, and Seignelay ; Mary ; Catharine
married to Lieut. Robertson of the Hopetown Fencibles ; Helena married
Hannah, officer of Excise at Inverness ; Magdalen and Jean.
" Sons of John III., supra.
11 George, his heir ; Lauchlan, second son, went to France, where he en-
tered the army, and became Marechale de Camp, or Major-General. He
married in France, Hereford, by whom he had a son, Roger, Baron de
Colbert; and a daughter, who died unmarried.
" Alexander, third son, went to France, and became L'Abb6 Colbert.
"James, fourth son, went to America, to South Carolina, where he twice
married, and had a numerous family.
" Jean, the eldest daughter, married Thomas Alves of Shipland, Inver-
ness. Her issue 1st, John Alves, Physician at Inverness, married first,
Campbell of the Calder family. Issue 1, Thomas, in Jamaica; 2,
Archibald, of Springfield, Edinburgh ; 3, Alexander, in Jamaica, d.s.p. ;
4, Jean, married an Irish Presbyterian minister. John Alves, married
2d, Baillie of Dunain. Issue 1, William, in Demerara, distinguished
in the defence of St Vincent against the French, when he was wounded ;
2, Ann ; 3, Helen, married Inglis, brother to William Inglis, Provost
of Inverness.
" Jean, 2d son Thomas, and 3d James.
" After the death of George IV. supra, the Estate, burdened with heavy
debt, was left by his children to the creditors, and came to a judicial sale
in 1 780, when it was purchased by Alexander Cuthbert, third son of John
and brother to George. He died in 1782, and from his heirs-at-law the
estate was again purchased by George, youngest son of the late George
230 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
Cutlibert of Castlchill. He was hardly in possession of the estate, when
he died in Jamaica, without issue, having married Ann Pinnock. His
lauded property devolved on his brother, Lewis, who married Jean Pin-
nock, sister to his brother's wife, of an honourable family in Jamaica, by
whom he had two sons and three daughters. 1st, George, Provost-Mar-
shal and Admiralty Judge at Jamaica ; 2d, Seignelay. Daughters, Eliza-
beth and two others.
" The above is from Deeds, vouchers of which are lodged in the Lyon
office."
Lewis Cuthberfr of Castlehill sold his estate at Inverness, and after-
wards failed in business as a West Indian merchant, and died in a lunatic
asylum. Other branches of the family survive. One member of it was,
in 18GO, living in London, a retired Bengal Civilian. The late General
John Mackenzie of Gahioch (born 1763, died 1860) remembered enter-
taining the then Cuthbert of Castlehill, and the Bishop of Rodez, when
with the left wing of the 78th Regiment at Putney in 1795.
I am not in possession of any information regarding members of the
family still existing ; but in a number of the Courier, published perhaps
a year ago, there was a notice of a sale of some land in Inverness, the
last remnant of the old Cuthbert property.
JAMES D. MACKENZIE.
Meuntgerald, Dingwall, March 1879.
THE Rev. George Seignelay Cuthbert, vicar of Market-Drayton, Salop,
writes, " In answer to the query relative to the Cuthberts of Castlehill, I
am the lineal representative of this ancient family at all events in Eu-
rope. My father was Seignelay Thomas Cuthbert (H.E.I.C.S.), son of
Lewis Cuthbert, the third son of George Cuthbert, the last of the Barons
of Castlehill, who resided there and possessed the property. Whether
there are any descendants of James Cuthbert, the eldest son of the said
Baron, still living in America, I do not know ; but the second son, Seig-
nelay, my great-uncle having been Bishop of Rodez in France, and so, of
course, unmarried, I have the honour of being now the direct lineal de-
scendant of the Cuthbert family in the United Kingdom."
THE CHIEF OF THE CLAN MACKENZIE. We refer "Cabar" to the
article on the CHIEFSHIP, which appears in this number, for an answer to
the principal points in his query. He will find that, failing the family
of Allangrange, the Chiefship reverts to the Old Mackenzies of Dundon-
nell, the representative of which, in this country, is John Hope Macken-
zie, now residing at Tarradale. An elder son went to California, of whom
there is no trace. [Ed. C.M,]
THE CAMERONS. In "Smibert's Clans" appears the following, on page
101: "An ancient manuscript History of the Clan Cameron commences
with these words 'The Camerons have a tradition among them that
they are originally descended of a younger son of the Royal Family of
Denmark, who assisted at the restoration of Fergus II. He was called
Cameron from his crooked nose, as that word imports. But it is more
probable that they are of the Aborigines of the ancient Scots or Caledo-
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 231
nians that first planted the errantry.' Mr Skene quotes these words, and
concurs in the latter conclusion, which indeed seems the most feasible in
the case." I do not know where this manuscript History of the Came-
rons is now to be found ; but, unless it was given, like many other
Highland MS. histories, to the late Mr Donald Gregory, and, in consequ-
ence of his death, never returned, it will probably be found in Lochiel's
possession, or in that of Mr "W. F. Skene, who, it is understood, obtained
possession of Gregory's papers and manuscripts. M.
Q V E R I E S.
(9) CHISHOLM OP TEAWIG. "Wanted, information respecting the Origin and Pedigree
of the Family of Chisholm of Teawig, parish of Kilmorack, Inverness shire. The head
of the family at the end of the seventeenth century was Alexander Chisholm, who was
succeeded by his son of the same name. Hev. Thomas Chisholm and the Rev. David
Chisholm, ministers of Kilmorack, were of this family, which was a landed one, holding
the property of Teawig in fee or in wadset. C.D.A.
(10) GILDONICH. A somewhat common surname in Kilmorack at the end of the 17th
and beginning of the 18th centuries was that of " Gildonich," sometimes spelt "Mhaol-
donich," sometimes " MacGildonich " and " MacOldonich." The name disappears alto-
gether, so far as the Church Registers are concerned, before 1720. What surname did
the family assume, and what are the members of it now known by? The name "Gildo-
nich " appears to mean "servant of St Dominick." How did it originate in the Aird?
A.C.D.
(11) REV. WILLIAM PHASER OP KILMORACK. What family of Frasers was this minister
derived from ? He was minister at the end of the 17th century. A.D.C.
(12) CLAN GDNN. Would any reader of the Celtic Magazine inform me who the
younger sons of Donald Gunn of Killernan (sixth MacHamisb) were and also who their
descendants were for three generations ? MAClAN.
(13) FERNE, in Ross-shire, at one time the seat of a Monastery was also a Regality, and
as such was competent to Register Deeds as Commissary or Sheriff Courts. Deeds re-
gistered in the "Regality Books of Feme " are frequently named in Highland records.
Does anyone know what became of these books at the absorption or extinction of the
Regality powers? LEX.
(14) THE CCTHBERTS OF INVERNESS. Mr Fraser-Mackintosh tells us that " Alexander
Cuthbert, predecessor to the Cuthberts of Drakies, was slain at Pinkie (1547)." Will
any grubber amongst the ashes ef ancestors kindly give the predecessors of that gentle-
man and his successors up to Alexander, who died soen after 1600 ; also, the wives and
their families ? The last-named Alexander's spouse was a Christian Dunbar ; was she
of an Inverness family ? F. MEDENHAM.
(15) THE ROSSES OF INVERCHARRON. Can any Ross, Munro, or Mackenzie Seannachie
fill up the following gaps : There was a younger branch of Balnagowan called Ross of
Invercharron from the 15th or 16th century until about 1797 (when it was sold to ano-
ther family of Rosses). A William thereof married a daughter of Mackenzie, first of
Davochmaluak. Was this William the first owner or was he William, son of Alexander
of Invercharron the latter two died from 1620 25 ? Alexander's relict was a Macken-
zie ; of what family was she, and was she a second wife? His grandson, Walter, was =
an Isobella [or Elizabeth] ilonro, telict of Innes of Calrossie, and daughter of Andrew
Monro or George Monro of Miltown ; which is correct ? Any information about this
family previous to 1620 is anxiously sought. QuiLl.
(16) THE PEERAGE AND BARONETCIES OF CROMARTY AND TARBAT. Will you or any of
the numerous Mackenzies or other antiquarian readers of the Celtic Magazine inform
me who is the present representative of the Cromarty and Tarbat honours in the male
line. The present Duchess of Sutherland, descended from the Earls of Cromarty in the
female line was, in 1861, created Countess of Cromarty, but it is generally believed that
a family of Mackenzies in Lochinvar represent the old family of Tarbat and Cromarty.
I shall esteem it a favour if any one can give me correct information regarding this, and
full particulars about the Lochinvar family and their families, heirs, &c., if any, in your
query column ? TABBAT.
232 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
DUNVEGAN CASTLE.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
The Manse, Narracoorte,
South Australia, 1 4th December 1 878.
DEAR SIR, I send you the following lines, which I heard recited by an
old friend in my youth, but which I have never seen in print ; and I have
much pleasure in making you a present of them, if you think them wor-
thy of a place in the Magazine. Of their authorship I know nothing
nor of the subject of his eulogy, but there must surely be some record
in Skye of the magnificent mansion described by the bard :
A dhaoine seallaibh air an aitreabh,
'Tha raise faicinn le'm shuillibh !
Cismaol Mac Neill a Barra
An deigh's teachd a steach do'n duthaich^
Teaghlach muirneach, rioghail, ceutach,
Anns am biodh cinn-fheadhna 's diucan,
Piob ga spreigeadh ann ad thrannsa
Srannraich each is fathrum chruithean.
S ann an Steinn a thog thu 'n aitreabh
Far am faighte 'n gloine lionta,
Ruma glas is fion na Frainge,
Uisge beatha 's branndai riornhach
'S ma dheoghainn gach seorsa bidhe
Cha 'n urrainn mi dhuibh ga chunntas :
Cruithneachd, 's briosgaidean nan Innsean,
Muc ga Sgriobadh 's moilt ga'n rusgadh.
A thalla nam buadhanna mora,
S' eibhinn na sloigh 'tha mu'n cuairt duit,
S mor a chi iad do gach ioghna,
Cuir seachad an t' saoghail gun ghruaman ;
Beannachd do'n laimh 'thog na clachan,
Dh'f hag e iad gu daingeann laidir,
'S uair a measa 'shaor a ghiuthais,
Gur buidheach mi dh' obair a laimhe,
'S nam b' urrainn mo bheul innse,
Mar a ta m' inntinn ag raitinn
Cha togar s' cha deanar aitreabh
An taic ris a Chaisteal so lamh ruinn.
[Hero my memory fails me a little.]
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 233
. . . An Eaglais rnlior a tlm'n Glaschu,
. . . S' air a chaisteal a tha'n Struila,
An tur Uaine 'bha 'n Lunainn,
Gum b' iongantach an gniomh dhaoin' e,
Bha aitreabh ann an Hanover,
Le ursnaibh oir s' le comlila airgid,
Ach a leithid so do aitreabh
Cha'n f hacas an taice ri fairge,
Air dheanamh le aol 's le clachan
Cho geal ri sneachda nan garbhlach.
Nuair a chaidh mi stigh '11 'ad thrannsa,
Sheall mi os mo cheann gu diblidh,
Chunnaic mi gach ni bha aghmhor,
'S cha nar dhomh teannadh-r' a innseadh,
Coinnlean ceir a bhi gan lasadh,
Air bord snaighte do'n f hiodli riomhach,
Airgiod is or fad mo sheallaidh,
Sgathanna glaine gu lionmhor.
Thig loingeas nan gunnacha mora,
Le 'n cuid sheol, a stigh fo'cl dhorus,
Theid gach Caiptin sios ga gheolaidh
'S eighidh e, gur mor an f annas,
An aitreabh ucl a tha air tir,
Sa slios cho li ri cli na h'eala,
Teannamaid a steach da h' ionnsaidh,
Sgu'm faiceamaid surd a balla.
Theid iad a steach air a dorus
S' cuiridh iad an ad fo'n cleoca
Suathaidh iad am brogan mine, dubha,
'N Carpat buidhe 's fiamh an oir air,
Siubhlaidh iad gu ciallach, samhacb, modhail, narach,
Feadh do sheomar, an ad s' am brogan fo'n achlais,
'S cha bu lapach an ceann sgoid iad.
Thig iad a mach air a dorus,
Bheir gach fear a shoitheach fein air,
Togaidh iad an siuil ri crannaibh,
Siubhlaidh iad air tonnaibh bronnach uaine,
'S cha stad iad gus an ruig iad Lunainn,
Toirt urram do aitreabh Ruairidh.
I hope the Bard will get into print, and I shall not regret that I have
been the means of introducing him to your readers. I am, yours faith-
fully, D. M'CALMAN,
Presbyterian Minister.
On receipt, we handed the above to our venerable friend, the Rev.
Alexander Macgregor, M.A., that he might throw what light he could on
the subject of this excellent composition, and he supplied the following
T
234 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
notes, which will no doubt prove interesting to others, as well as to our
friend at the Antipodes :
There is much interest attached to the ancient Duns or Forts, which
are so numerous on the coasts of the "Western Isles. Some of these are of
very remote antiquity, and may have been built in the pre-historic ages.
Others very probably were erected during the Fingalian wars, while others
were reared as places of defence, at less remote periods, and the Isles,
were seized upon by their Scandinavian invaders. In Skye alone there
are no fewer than about one hundred ruins of various descriptions of forts,
and all of them are situated in suitable localities near the sea. Dun-
Scaith, on the west coast of Sleat, is alluded to by Ossian, and was a very
extensive building, connected with which the remains of a prison and
draw-well are still visible. Of all these forts, that of Dunvegan, in the
parish of Duirinish in Skye, is the only one still inhabited. No doubt it
is the Dun alluded to by the bard in the beautiful Gaelic poem herewith
given. A brief but minute description of this interesting monument of
primeval ages cannot fail to edify the readers of the Celtic Magazine, and
particularly so such as admire the descriptive effusions of Gaelic bards in
praise of their heroic chieftains, and lordly residences. The period v, Lui
the oldest part of this fort was built is buried in remote antiquity. A
portion of it is said to have been erected in the eighth or ninth century.
Subsequently, a lofty tower was raised over the fort by Alasdair Crotach,
about the middle of the thirteenth century, to correspond with an ancient
tower built on the opposite side of the square. For hundreds of years
these two towers were separated from each other, except by a secret pas-
sage excavated from the solid rock ; but, eventually, they were united by
a row of less elevated edifices erected by Euairidh Mor, who received the
honour of knighthood from James VI. It was, no doubt, during the life-
time of Euairidh Mor that the Gaelic song hereto attached was composed,
as that gallant chieftain is evidently the one alluded to in it. Probably it
is the composition of the celebrated poetess, Mairi Nighean Alasdair Euaidh,
who lived in the days of her distinguished relative and chief, Euairidh
Mor, and sung his praises in poems of rousing energy and beauty. The
Macleods of Dunvegan had likewise a race of pipers, from time immemorial
the MacCrimmons, who officiated in that capacity all along from sire to
son. They had for centuries their training college at Boreraig, near Dun-
vegan, where they communicated their masterly knowledge of bagpipe-
music to numerous pupils from all quarters of the kingdom. At the date
under review, Patric Mor MacCrimmon was piper to Euairidh Mor, for
whom he composed a salute, as celebrated for its melting pathos, as ever
were the poetic strains of Mairi Nigheau Alasdair Euaidh.
] Hmvegan Castle or fort is built upon an isolated, precipitous rock of
about two hundred feet in height. In olden times, tradition says, that
the sea surrounded it, by dashing through a dark narrow chasm that se-
parated the castle-rock from the land. On the opposite side, the sea was
deep, and capable of allowing boats or galleys of any size to sail to the
very base of the perpendicular precipice. There was no entrance of old
into tin' fiii-t but from the sea-side, and that was by a steep narrow stair
cut in the rock, and both difficult and dangerous to climb.
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 235
In latter times this entrance ceased to be used, as it could not easily
be approached by sea, and a massive draw-bridge was thrown across the
chasm already alluded to. At a still more modern date, this chasm was
filled up with stones and rubbish, and a substantial roadway now leads to
the castle on the north side. "Within the quadrangle of this fortalice a
well was excavated in the solid rock to the depth of about t\vo hundred
feet, out of which an abundance of pure water could be drawn up to sup-
ply the fort. This well resembles that in Edinburgh Castle, and is still
open and frequently used. As already stated, Dunvegan Castle is to this
day inhabited by Macleod of Macleod, and a very romantic, yet comfort-
able residence it is. The walls of the great dining-hall in the old tower
are fourteen feet thick, and large parties may dine in the angular recesses
of the windows.
As the Castle is situate near the terminus of Loch Foillart, the anchor-
age close by it for large vessels is not at all times safe ; and the conse-
quence was, that ships of considerable size resorted to the adjacent har-
bour of Lochbay, where they might lie in safety in all weathers, under
the shelter of Isay Isle, and opposite to the village of Stein.
There are several relics of considerable interest in the ancient Castle
of Dunvegan to which a bare allusion may now be made. The principal
ones among these are Euairidh Mor's drinking-horn, .TSTiall Glundubh's
chalice, and the Saracen Fairy flag. Euairidh Mor's horn is immensely
large, and will contain five English pints of Mountain dew, or any less
powerful liquid. It is beautifully carved and chased, and mounted with
silver. The chalice or cup of Niall Glundubh is hollowed out of a block
of solid ebony, sits upon four pedestals of silver, and is splendidly mounted
with silver and precious stones. It bears the date of 991, and has an in-
scription on it in Latin. It is said to have been taken by one of the
Macleods from an Irish Chief, named Niall Glundubh. The Bratach-
Shith, or Fairy flag, is still carefully preserved, although much decayed
through age, and the pilfering of shreds of it by curious visitors. Tradi-
tion has it, that the flag was taken during the Crusades, from a Saracen
chief, and that it is possessed of various miraculous properties. The fate
and fortune of the Macleods depend upon this mystical flag, and it is the
palladium of their clan. These interesting relics have been alluded to by
Sir Walter Scott in his diary, and also in his notes to the Lord of the
Isles, and tourists and visitors may still inspect them, and many things
besides, if they pay a visit to the elevated hoary Castle of Dunvegau.
Mo Euairidh Mor, Mo Euairidh Mor !
Bithidh ceol is dain ann talladh 'n f hir f heill,
Deochan o chein, sitheann beinne,
Dreosach dhe'n cheir, is pioban 'gan gleus,
'S ann aros mo ruin cha bhi gainne !
Mo Ruairidh Mor, Mo Euairidh Mor !
236 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
THE KILT AND BONNET BLUE.
My harp I'll strike for Scotia brave,
Fair Freedom's loved abode ;
Proud are her sons, the foot of slave
Their heather never trode ;
Staunch loyalty, whate'er betide,
Their manly breasts imbue !
They love the bonnie tartan plaid,
The kilt, and bonnet blue.
The kilt, and bonnet blue, hurrah !
The kilt, and bonnet blue,
They love the Dannie tartan plaid,
The kilt, and bonuet blue.
There are across the stormy sea
More genial climes what then ?
Their inuids are not so fair and free,
Nor jet as bold their men ;
For Scotia's sons, both far and wide,
High honour's path pursue,
Robed in the bonnie tartan plaid,
The kilt, and bonnet blue.
The kilt, and bonnet blue, hurrah !
The kilt, and bonnet blue,
Robed in the bonnie tartan plaid,
The kilt, and bonnet blue.
Our liberty was dearly bought
Enthralling chains we spurn !
Remember how our fathers fought
And bled on Bannockburn !
A fame-wreath, ever to abide,
They bound the gallant few !
Round Freedom's brow, twined with the plaid,
The kilt, and bonnet blue.
The kilt, and bonnet blue, hurrah !
The kilt, and bonnet blue,
Round Freedom's brow, twined with the plaid,
The kilt, and bonnet blue.
If foemen, then, cross o'er the main,
And land upon our shore,
They'll come to be forced back again,
Or fall in battle's roar ;
"We'll belt the claymores to our sides,
That won famed Waterloo,
And conquer in our tartan plaids,
Oar kilts, and bonnets blue.
Our kilts, and bonnets blue, hurrah !
Our kilts, and bonnets blue,
And conquer in our tartan plaids,
Our kilts, and bonnets blue.
EDINBURGH. ALEXANDER LOGAN.
THE CELTIC MAGAZIKE. 237
literature.
THE ROSE AND THISTLE. Poems and Songs by WILLIAM ALLAN. London :
Siinpkin, Marshall, & Co.
THIS is a handsomely got-up, illustrated volume of four hundred pages, by
our friend and valued contributor, Mr William Allan, of Sunderland. It
is as unnecessary, as it would be out of place, to discuss Mr Allan's merits
as a poet in the Celtic Magazine. He has long ago established himself
as a great favourite with those of our readers who care for poetry that has
a sterling ring in it ; and a good many of his contributions to our pages
are included in the beautiful and attractive volume before us "The Doom
of Dunolly," and "The Death of Ossian," forming the first 57 pages of
the book. An amount of domestic felicity is presented by the author in
the praises of his own " Jean," which is most agreeable and refreshing.
The following is only one of many genuine tributes of the same kind :
LIGHTSOME JEAN.
Tichtsome, lichtsome, winsome Jeanie,
Smilin', wilin' ever ;
Genty, tenty, canty Jeanie,
Frownin', gloomin' never,
Frownin', gloomin' never.
Life's wee burdens a' are blessin's,
Sae I lo'e them aye to tease me ;
A' to pree the fond caressin's,
O' the heart that aye can please me ;
Frowns are foes unto her nature,
Loveless looks she canna thole,
Happiness wi' couthie feature
Owre the house maun hae control.
Tichtsome, lichtsome, winsome Jeanie,
Smilin', wilin' ever ;
Genty, tenty, canty Jeanie,
Frownin', gloomin' never,
Frownin', gloomin' never.
Ilka morn is aye affordin'
A' the joy that brings anither ;
Ilka day maun dee recordin',
A' our bliss unto its brither ;
Life wi' us has nocht o' rancour,
Hamely peace is a' we prize,
Trustin' to ae mutual anchor,
Earth to us is paradise.
The " Wee Toom Shoon," is truly touching. The sorrowing young mother
mourns for her departed child, draws a picture of "his bonnie curly
head," and " dark love-lowiu' e'e, his chubby cheeks of glowin' red, an' lips
sae sweet to me." She looks into the " wee toom shoon " worn by her
lost one, and pathetically exclaims.
I see him aft in gowden dreams
Sweet cuddlin' doon to rest ;
His ae wee han' fu' aften seems
Still lyin' on my breast.
Ah me ! whan dawns the brichtest morn
Dark sorrow is my only boon j
I wake to feel he's frae me torn,
For death keeks oot frae the wee toom Bhoon
His wee toom shooc.
238 THE CELTIC MAGAZIXE.
Though the reader is already so well acquainted with Mr Allan's poems,
as to make it superfluous to discuss his merits here, we may be permitted
to say that the late Dr Carruthcrs expressed his opinion to us when " The
Doom of Dunolly" was parsing through these pages, that nothing of e<[iial
merit of the same kind appeared since Sir Walter Scott wrote on kindred
themes. He afterwards expressed the same opinion to " Xether-Loch-
aber," and, if we correctly remember, did so also in the Inverness Courier.
This is a far higher tribute than any commendations of ours could be.
The illustrations are really good. The frontispiece is an excellent repre-
sentation of Duuolly Castle and Fingal's Stone. " Here, Hector fell."
While we are indisposed to say so much about the merits of the book as,
in other circumstances, we might have done, the reader may not be un-
willing to have a short review of the author himself. He recently paid
us a visit in Inverness, in connection with which he composed that sweet
little piece, " lie.st in the Fight," which appeared in the February number.
He is certainly a remarkable looking man for a poet, a powerfully
built, herculean frame such a one as we would imagine Vulcan himself to
be considerably over six feet in height, with a fine open countenance
full of good-natured humour. He is a very store-house of information
on almost every subject, and the perfect impersonation of a true actor
and mimic relating his endless laughter-producing tales and personal
reminiscences.
Mr Allan has teen a good deal of the world ; was bred an engineer,
in which capacity he was employed during the late American War, in
one of the Southern blockade runners. He was ultimately captured, and
for a considerable time incarcerated in the old Capitol Prison of Washington.
After various vicissitudes, he was employed as foreman engineer in the North
Eastern Marine Engineering Company's Works at Sunderland, of which he
is now, and has been for several years past, the managing partner, having
over a thousand men under his charge, among whom are to be found
the sons of the first gentlemen in England. While engaged in this iron-
manner all day, he, as soon as the day's work is over, leaves the cares of
the world behind him ; goes home to enjoy the comforts of his fine
mansion, " Scotland House," which is nearly all carved into Scotch thistles
inside and out. He is seldom or ever found out of his literary corner of
an evening, surrounded by all the comforts a frugal, happy, Highland
wife, a hopeful family, and plenty of this world's goods, can procure, and
he knocks off a lyric every night almost with the same facility as he would
write a letter to a friend. In this manner Mr Allan has thrown oil' enough
for four volumes, already published, and much more besides which has
not yet seen the light. The reader will not be sorry, we feel sure, to
get this peep into the position and habits of their favourite bard, which
are, in every respect, as unlike those of most poets as they can well be ;
and we know that many of his friends only want to know that he has
published the volume before us to induce them at once to secure a work so
highly meritorious as a literary production, and which, at the same time,
exhibits such a delightful picture of domestic happiness and home com-
fort,
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
239
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Gur daite na bileaa o 'm milis 'thig ceol,
'S do dheud mar an ibhri mo nighneag gheal og.
Gur mor 'tha ri leughadh 's an aodann a's ailt,
Thu tuigseach 'n ad chomhradh, gun mhor-chuis gun straichd,
Tha buaidhean ri innseadh le firinn gu leoir
'Hinn reul a measg mhiltean de m' nighneag gheal og.
'S i 'n ur-shlat 's a' choill thu, mo mhaighdean deas donn
Gun choire ri luaidh ort o d' chuailean gu d' bhonn,
Mar ubhal tha d'anail, bias meal' air do phoig
'S do bhriathran Ian millseachd mo nighneag gheal og.
Mar anail nan ainglean 's na speuran a' snamh
Bi neoil gheal an t-samhraidh mu 'n ghrein anns an aird,
'S e sud an t aon choimeas a bheir mi le deoin
Do d' bhraighe caoin min-sa mo nighneag gheal og.
'S tu 'n euchdag dheas, donn, thogadh fonn air mo chridh
Le misneach do naduir, 's do mhannranaich bhinn,
'S 'n uuir dhisgte piano, gu h-ard le d' chaol mheoir
Bhiodh ra' acaiu air di-chuimhn' mo nighneag ghea og.
240 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
Gur buidhe g' ad leannan O ainnir nara buadh !
Gur boidheach do mhala, seimh banail gun ghruaim,
Gur iomadh duin' uasal gu d' bhuannachd tha 'n toir,
'S gur lion tha 'cur pris air mo nigbneag gheal og.
Gur buidhe g' ad leannan o ainnir an nigh
'N uair gheibh e gu deonach uait coir air do laimb,
Gur fearr dha le cinnt na ged sgriobhte dha or
'Bhi 'g eisdeachd do bhriodail mo nighneag gheal og.
Gur binne na coin learn an doire nan cuach
Fonn oran o d' bhilean mar shirisd nan bruach,
'S do ckeum tha cho eutrom air reidhlean an fheoir
Hi eilid na fridhe mo nighneag gheal og.
O ciamar a chuirinn do mhaise an ceill
No buaidhean do naduir ged 's ard duit mo speis ?
Cha ruig air do sgiamh mi le briathran mo bheoil
'S cha 'n urrain mi 'n sgriobhadh mo nighneag gheal og.
Mo shoraidh 's mo bheannachd dhuit ainnir nam beus,
Am meangan a's cubhraidh tha 'n dlu choill' nan geug
Ge b'e co ni do bhuain gheibh e duais a bhios mor
'S tu 'm beartas 'a an iochd-shlaint mo nighneag gheal og.
NOTE. The above verses Mo Nighneag Gheal Og are the composition of Mrs Mary
Mackellar. To the Gaelic reader it is needless to speak of their great beauty ; and any
endeavour to convey an idea of that beauty to one not conversant with Gaelic would
ail. Suffice it to say that they fully sustain Mrs Mackellar's reputation as a
Gaelic Banabhard. The air is well known to Highlanders and Lowlanders, and needs
no comment here. "W. M'K.
DE SMITH'S GAELIC PROPHETS. We have much pleasure
in calling attention to an intimation on another page, that the Ecv. Dr
John Smith's Gaelic Prophets are about to be reprinted by, and under
the supervision of, the Eev. Donald Masson, M.A., M.D., of the Gaelic
Church, Edinburgh, whose interesting and valuable articles on "Our
Gaelic Bible," and now passing through this Magazine, are giving so much
satisfaction to our readers. Dr Masson deserves to be supported and
relieved of any risk in his plucky and patriotic venture, by an early and
large subscription list. It will be seen that the edition is to bo strictly
limited.
THE CLAN GTJNN. A series of articles on this old Highland Clan,
by a gentleman who has devoted years of research to the subject, will be
commenced in an early number.
HIGHLAND AND ISLAND SCENEEY. The first article on
this subject, by the Eev. Alexander Macgregor, M.A., Avill appear in our
next.
THE
CELTIC MAGAZINE.
No. XLIIL MAY, 1879. VOL. IV.
HIGHLAND AND ISLAND SCENEKY.
BY THE KEY. ALEX. MACGREGOR, M.A.
I.
SCOTLAND has been called the land of mountain and flood, and no
land more richly merits the name. It is the land of wild, blooming
heather, and of the tangled wilderness of hill and dale, formed in all the
prodigality of natural beauty. It is the region of " mountains, and of
glens, and of heroes," which, if taken all in all, has no parallel perhaps in
all the regions of the globe. In no other country does nature exhibit
herself in more various forms of sublimity and grandeur than in the
Highlands of Scotland.
But here it is my intention merely to make rapid allusion to some of
the most prominent features of our dearly beloved country, and to its
scenery in general its mountains and lakes, its glens and dales, its
rivers and waterfalls and then J shall ask the reader to follow me, to
the remarkable formation of nature in the scenery of Skye, and others
of the Hebride Isles.
The county of Ayr, with its Celtic topography, constitutes a large
part of the "Western coast of Scotland, and may appropriately be noticed
in a paper like this. Forming one large inclined plain towards the sea,
it is intersected in its breadth by several rivers, such as the Irvine, the
Ayr, and the Boon, all of which are rich in poetical association. This
county is rendered memorable by the defeat of the Norwegians at Largs
in their last invasion of this country, made in the year 1263, with a fleet
of 160 sail, and an army of 20,000 men, commanded by Haco, King of
Norway. His ravages on the coasts of Ayr, Bute, and Arran, arrested
the attention of the Scottish Court, when an army was immediately as-
sembled by Alexander III., and a bloody engagement took place at the
village of Largs, where 16,000 of the invaders were slain in battle. Haco
escaped to the Orkneys, where ho soon after died of grief. The entrench-
ments of the Norwegian camp may still be traced along the shore of this
place, and the burial-place of the Scottish commanders who fell in battle
is on a rising field near the village, still marked out by a few large stones.
But this county is rendered nothing less memorable, as the birth-place of
the immortal Burns. The poet was born in a clay-built, thatched cottage
U
242 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
on the high-way which leads from Ayr to tin; south, and about two miles
and a-halt' from that town. There may still bo seen the small farm occu-
pied by the pott's father, and near it are the ruins ot Alloway Kirk,
formerly a parochial place of worship. The road, immediately after
pas.-ing the cottage and the mined church, crosses the Doon by a modern
bridge of one arch, and at the distance of a hundred yards further up the
river, is the " Auld Brig," so noted in the tale of "Tarn O'Shanti-r."
Alloway Kirk, with its little inclosed burial-ground, well merits the
traveller's attention. It has long been roofless, but the walls are well
preserved, and it still retains its bell at the east end. But, upon the
whole, the spectator is struck with the idea, that the witches must have
had a rather narrow stage for the performance of their revels, as described
in the poem ! The " winnock bunker in the east," where sat the awful
musician, is still a conspicuous feature, being a small window divided by
a thick mullion. Upon a field about a quarter of a mile to the north-
west of the kirk, is a single tree inclosed with a paling, the last remnant
of a group which covered-
The cairn,
Whar hunters fand the murder'd bairn
And immediately beyond that is
The ford,
Whar in the snaw the chapman smoored.
These are two spots which Tarn O'Shanter is said to have passed on his
solitary way. Close to this is the thorn on the wayside, at the place
where " Mungo's mother " committed suicide. It is surprising with what
interest these localities are visited by the admirers of Burns and of the
poem of Tam O'Shanter. The Auld Brig o' Doon, which is approached
by a steep way, forming Tarn's line of inarch when pursued by the
witches, is a fine old arch, which is still kept in excellent order. About
forty years ago the parapets had suffered considerable injury, when the
Eev. Mr Paul of Broughton, author of a Life of Burns, wrote a poetical
petition for the " Auld Brig " to the Eoad Trustees, to obtain means for
repairing it. The petition ran as follows :
Unto the Honourable the Trustees of the Koads, in the County of Ayr, the petition
and complaint of the Auld Brig o' Doon.
Must I, like modern fabrics of a day,
Decline, unwept, the victim of decay ?
Shall my bold arch, that proudly stretches o'er
Doon's classic stream, from Kyles to Carrick's shore,
Be suffer'd in oblivion's gulph to fall,
And hurl to wreck my venerable wall ?
Forbid it ! every tutelary power !
That guards my Keystane at the midnight hour.
Forbid it ! ye who charna'd by Burns's lay,
Amid these scenes can linger out the day !
Let Nannie's sark, and Maggie's mangled tail,
Plead iu my cause, and in that cause prevail.
The man of taste, who comes my form to see,
And curious asks, but asks in vain, for me,
With tears of sorrow will my fate deplore,
When he is told" The Auld Brig is no more."
Stop then, O stop the more than vandal rage,
That marks this revolutionary age ;
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
And bid the structure of your father's last,
The pride of this, the boast of ages past ;
Nor ever let your children's children tell
By your decree the ancient fabric fell.
May it therefore please your honours to consider this petition, and grant such, sum
as you may think proper for repairing, and keeping up the Auld Brig o' DOOD.
But we must take leave of the pretty classic scenes of Ayr, and take
a cursory glance at other parts of the country, We will make brief men-
tion of a few of the most prominent objects that meet us on the way, such
as the highest hills, the most beautiful lakes, the principal Avaterfalls, and
such other localities as are worthy of the tourist's admiration. The Isles
of Bute and Arran, Ailsa Craig, and the romantic Kyles of Bute, have
all of them their features of beauty and interest. The ancient Castle of
Dumbarton, a strong fortress, crowns a lofty and precipitous rock which
rises from a plain at the conflux of the Clyde and Leven. On the top
of this remarkable rock are several batteries, the Governor's residence, the
barracks, and, store houses. In the days of the venerable Bede, it was
considered impregnable, but was reduced by famine in 756. This
fortress was long looked upon as the key to the West Highlands, It
stood many sieges, but during a thick fog in April 1571, it was surprised
and taken by escalade, when held by the adherents of Queen Mary.
The Scottish lakes, of which many are very picturesque, are nearly one
hundred in number. Of these, until of late, not a few were seldom or
ever visited and little heard of, while others were quite a " terra incognita"
to tourists. By the extension of railways, particularly our Highland system,
as well as by D. Hutcheson's magnificent fleet of steamers, thousands have
an opportunity of becoming better acquainted with a country posessing an
inexhaustible variety of lake scenery, as well as hundreds of other objects
of the most attractive and romantic interest. " A country thus consti-
tuted," says an eminent writer (Wilson), " and with such an aspect, even
if we could suppose it without lochs, would still be a glorious region ;
but its lochs are indeed its greatest glory. By them its glens, its moun-
tains, and its woods, are all illuminated, and its rivers made to sing aloud
for joy. In the pure element, overflowing so many spacious vales, and
glens profound, the great and stern objects of nature look even more sub-
lime, or more beautiful in their reflected shadows, which appear in that
stillness to belong rather to heaven than earth ! Such visions, when
gazed on, in that wonderous depth and purity which they are sometimes
seen to assume on a still summer day, always inspire some such faint feel-
ing as this; and we sigh to think how transitory must be all things,
when the setting sun is seen to sink beneath the mountains, and all its
golden splendour at the same instant to vanish from the lake."
The first that takes possession of the imagination, speaking of the
Highlands as the region of lochs, is the Queen of them all, Loch Lomond.
Among the many points from which a general view of the lake can
be obtained, the best perhaps is from the top of " Mount Misery,"
a little hill near its southern extremity, and about three miles above
Balloch, Here, lopking northward, towards the head of the lake,
it is beheld in its greatest breadth, stretched out like a scroll beneath the
feet. A variety of beautiful islands are interspersed over its surface, and
244 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
on its eastern and western banks are seen different ranges of hills, which,
seeming to meet towards the north, shut up the prospect, and mingle
their hold and broken outlines with the sky. Nor can it be forgotten,
that within a few miles of this locality, Smollet, the novelist, Buchanan,
the historian, and Napier, the inventor of logarithms, first saw the light
of day, each of whom has, in his own way, added a lustre to the litera-
tuie and science of Scotland. Smollet was born on the banks of the
Leven, Buchanan on the banks of the Blane, and Napier was born at
Garlics, near the river Endrick. The lake is guarded by mountains
around, and as they recede, they become more and more majestic, yet
their beauty never deserts them, and her spirit continues to tame the
wildness of the growing cliffs. Far off as they are, Ben-Lomond and
Benvoirlich are seen to be giants, each magnificent in his own dominion,
and clear as the day may be, both are diademed with clouds.
The next, perhaps, in point of magnificence is Loch-Katrine. It is
impossible for the imagination to conceive a succession of scenery more
sublime and imposing than is displayed around this splendid lake.
Nature seems to have assumed her wildest and most romantic aspect.
Mountains, precipices, and lofty rocks appear as if thrown around in the
rudest form, while trees and shrubs give variety and grace to the land-
scape. It forms the receptacle for hundreds of rivulets and streams, that
tumble down into it, " white as the snowy charger's tail."
The scenery of Loch-Katrine was but comparatively little known
until the publication of the "Lady of the Lake," by the great " Unknown,"
but the splendid descriptions of that exquisite poem soon spread its fame
wherever the English language is understood. The Trossachs form the
chief point of attraction Avith strangers visiting Loch-Katrine. " This
portion of the scenery," says the Minister of Callander, " beggars all des-
cription." Such an assemblage is there, of wildness, and of rude grandeur,
as fills the mind with the most sublime conceptions. It seems as if a
whole mountain had been torn in pieces, and frittered down by a convulsion
of the earth ; and the huge fragments of rocks, and woods, and hills, lie
scattered in confusion at the east end of the loch. Ben-Venue rises ma-
jestically from the side of the lake to the height of 3000 feet, and is con-
sidered to be one of the most picturesque mountains in the Kingdom.
The celebrated and well-known "Cor-nan-Uriskin," or Cave of the Goblins,
rendered venerable from Highland tradition and superstition, is situated
at the base of Ben- Venue, where it overhangs the lake in solemn grandeur.
It is a deep circular hollow in the mountain, about GOO yards in diameter
at the top, but narrowing towards the bottom, surrounded on all sides by
stupendous rocks, and overshadowed with birch trees, which render it
impenetrable to the rays of the sun. It is a horrible spot, which affords
ample shelter if not to fairies and hobgoblins assuredly so to foxes,
wild cats, and badgers !
The " Urisks," from whom this cave derives its name, were supposed
to be dispersed over the Highlands, each in his own wild recess, but the
solemn stated meetings, or general assemblies of the order, were regularly
held in this fearful den. These beings were, according to Dr Graham, a
sort of Inbberly supernatural, who, like the Brownies, might be gained over
by kind attention, to perform the drudgery of the farm. Sir Walter Scott
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 245
says that " tradition has ascribed to the ' Urisks ' a figure between a goat
and a man, in short, however much the classical reader may be startled,
precisely that of the Grecian Satyr." Further up the mountain than
Cor-nan-Uriskin is " Beallach nain b6," a magnificent pass across the
northern shoulder of the mountain. The imagination, lost in astonish-
ment, is apt to conceive it as an avenue leading from our lower world to
another and a higher sphere !
When passing through the narrow defile of the Trossachs, the spot is
seen where Fitz- James's horse exhausted fell, as also " the narrow and
broken plain," at the eastern opening, where Sir Walter supposes the
Scottish troops, under the Earls of Mar and Moray, to have paused ere
they entered that dark and dangerous glen, nor will the vivid description
of the scene which took place, when the archers entered the defile, be
ever forgotten. JS~o trace of a foe could at first be seen, but all at once,
There rose so wild a yell,
Within that dark and narrow dell ;
As all the fiends from heaven that fell,
Had peal'd the banner-cry of h 11.
Forth from the pass in tumult driven,
Like chaff before the wind of heaven
The archery appear ;
For life ! for life ! their flight they ply,
And shriek, and shout, and battle-cry,
And plaids, and bonnets waving high,
And broadswords flashing in the sky,
Are maddening in the rear.
Onward they drive in dreadful race,
Pursuers and pursued.
Although this is merely a description of an imaginary fight between the
Scottish troops and the men of Clan Alpine, yet, by the Wizard's wand,
it has become so familiar to every reading mind as almost to be considered
the account of a real transaction. And we believe that few pass now
through the Trossachs without thinking of Eoderick Dubh and his Mac-
gregors. But there is little reason to doubt that many such encounters
have in reality taken place. This formed one of the passes from the
Lowlands to the Highlands, and it was in such places that the indomitable
Highlanders usually made their stand against what they of all things
abhorred, Saxon men, their laws, and their government.
There are several other lakes and localities of interest in this quarter,
upon which we cannot at present enlarge. On our way JS"orth we shall
accompany the reader through the celebrated Pass of Killiecrankie, in
Athole, near the junction of the Tumrnel with the Garry. It is formed
by the lofty mountains overhanging the Garry, which rushes below in a
dark, deep, rocky channel, forming a scene of exquisite grandeur. This
was formerly a pass of great difficulty and danger, a path hanging over a
tremendous precipice that threatened instant destruction to the least false
step of the traveller. Eventually a good road was formed to give access
to the Highlands, and the two sides of the defile wc.re joined !>v -\ s ib-
stantial bridge. More recently the Highland K,iil\va\ Uomp n
constructed a substantial railway through the pass. On a held ovo the
pass, called " Raon-Kuairidh," was fought the celebrated battle of Killie-
crankie in 1689, between the adherents of James II., under Viscount
Dundee, and those of William III., under General Mack ay, wherein the
246 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
Viscount fell, and with him the hopes of the House of Stewart. It was
a dreadful place for a battle. The slain on both sides lay in heaps in the
swollen pools and eddies of the Garry. It is said that in the morning
after the battle, a number of the native Highlanders went with pok-.s to
push the dead bodies of the Southerns down the stream, and were en-
couraged in their ghastly work by an aged female standing on the pinna-
cle of a rock, and crying out with, all her might " Sios leis na coin, sios
iad, sios iad, dh' ionnsuidh an cuideachd fein " " Down with the dogs,
down with them, down with them, to their own people."
As we pass along, the mountain of Lochnagar, which towers proudly
pre-eminent over Her Majesty's Castle at Balmoral, may be noticed. It
is certainly one of the most sublime and picturesque amongst our " Cale-
donian Alps." Its appearance is of a dusky hue, and it overhangs a deep,
dark lake, called " Loch Muick," at the east end of which Her Majesty
has built a large, comfortable shiel, or summer-house, which she often
frequents. Lord Byron spent some of the early part of his life near this
romantic mountain, the recollection of which caused him to commemorate
his visit by a beautiful song, in the following strains :
Away, ye gay landscapes, ye gardens of roses !
In you let the mirions of luxury rove ;
Restore me the rocks, where the snow-flake reposes,
Though still they are sacred to freedom and love ;
Yet, Caledonia, beloved are thy mountains,
Bound their white summits tbough elements war ;
Though cataracts foam 'stead of smooth-flowing fountains,
I sigh for the valley of dark Lochnagar.
Ah ! there my young footsteps in infancy wander'd ;
My cap was the bonnet, my cloak was the plaid ;
On chieftains long perish'd my memory ponder'd,
As daily I strode through the pine-cover'd glade.
I sought not my home till the day's dying glory
Gave place to the rays of the bright polar star ;
For fancy was cheer'd by traditional story,
Disclosed by the natives of dark Lochnagar.
Shades of the dead ! have I not heard your voices
Rise on the night-rolling breath of the gale?
Surely the soul of the hero rejoices,
And rides on the wind o'er his own Highland vale.
Round Lochnagar while the stormy mist gathers,
Winter presides in his cold icy car ;
Clouds there encircle the forms of my fathers ;
They dwell in the tempests of dark Lochnagar.
Ill-starr'd, though brave, did no visions forboding
Tell you that fate had forsaken your cause ?
Ah ! were you destined to die at Culloden,
Victory crown'd not your fall with applause ;
Still were you happy in death's earthly slumber.
You rest with your clan in the caves of Braemar ;
The pibroch resounds, to the piper's loud number,
Your deeds on the echoes of dark Lochnagar.
Years have roll'd on, Lochnagar, since I left you,
Years must elapse ere I tread you again ;
Nature of verdure and flowers has bereft you
Yet still are you dearer than Albion's plain.
England ! thy beauties are tame and domestic
To one who has roved o'er the mountains afar ;
Oh ! for the crags that are wild and majstic !
The steep frowning glories of dark Lochnagar.
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
Of waterfalls there are hundreds of a larger and lesser degree over the
length and breadth of our land, but it has been said that the Fall of
Foyers, near Inverness, is the most magnificent cataract, out of sight in.
Britain. The din of it is quite loud enough in ordinary weather to be
heard for miles distant, and it is only in ordinary weather that any one
can safely approach the place, from which a full view of its grandeur is
obtained. When the fall is in flood, to say nothing of being drenched to
the skin, you are so blinded by the sharp spray-smoke, and so deafened
by the dashing and clashing, and tumbling and rumbling thunder, that
your condition is far from enviable, as you cling, " lonely lover of nature,"
to a shelf by no means eminent for safety, above the horrid gulf. In
short, it is worth walking 100 miles to behold the Fall of Foyers.
But of all the places in Scotland, there is none perhaps, where the
mind can be more impressed with a variety of feelings, than when visiting
that dreadful glen " Glencoe ! " The memory reflects at once on the
desperately bloody and diabolical plot that was transacted there, the
greatest, the cruelest, and the most inhuman that ever stained the page of
history. At five o'clock in the morning of 13th February 1692, the
storm howled from cliff to cliff, the snow drifted furiously over the
shelving slopes of these barren hills, and the wreaths settled deeply in
the tractless valley below. The Cona flowed sluggishly on, impeded
in its rugged course by the accumulating snow. The soldiers, like as
many fiends of darkness, lay concealed, and under such shelter as they
could procure. They were under the command of the perfidious Captain
Robert Campbell of Glenlyon and others, and at the instigation of Dal-
rymple of Stair, Breadalbane, King William, and their confederates, went
unto the Glen some days before, and, with murderous intent, concealed
and sheltered themselves that night in caves and crevices of the rocks,
until the appointed hour. M'lan, the aged chief, was fast in his slumbers,
after having treated the officers with Highland hospitality the evening
before. At length the stipulated moment for destruction and murder had
arrived, the command was given, and the deadly onset was made simul-
taneously in the different hamlets of the glen. Captain Campbell, with
a heart full of Satanic treachery, and with a barbarity which has few
parallels in the annals of cruelty, undertook to murder his own hospitable
landlord, the aged M'lan. Having obtained admission into the house,
the venerable chieftain was, of course, still in bed at that dark and dismal
hour, and while in the act of rising, to entertain, as he intended, his
bloody visitors, he was basely fired at by two of the soldiers, and he fell
lifeless into the arms of his wife. We cannot dwell on this scene.
There was no house in the glen in which there were less than one or two
murdered, and in some all. Women and children who had escaped the
bayonets and lead of these inhuman monsters, fled to the rugged hills,
where many of them died in the storm. It was a dreadful morning.
Imagination still fancies that the gloomy atmosphere of that wild region is
tainted with gunpowder smell, and that the moans of the innocent dying
victims are still wafted upon the cold breezes of that dismal glen.
General Stewart, in his sketches, states in regard to the late Colonel
Campbell of Glenlyon, that he was an officer of the 42d Regiment, and
grandson of the Captain Campbell who commanded the military at
248 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
Glencoe. In 1771 Colonel Campbell was ordered to execute the sentence
of a court martial on a soldier condemned to he shot. A reprieve was
procured, but the whole ceremony of the execution was to proceed until
the criminal was upon his knees, with a cap over his eyes, prepared to
receive the volley. It was then that he was to be informed of his pardon,
and no one was to be told of it previously, not even the firing party,
whose signal to fire was the waving of a white handkerchief by the com-
manding officer. When all was ready, and the firing party were looking
with eager eyes for the signal, Colonel Campbell put his hand into his
pocket for the reprieve, and on pulling it out, the white handkerchief
accompanied it, and catching the eyes of the party, they fired, when alas !
the unfortunate prisoner was shot dead. Colonel Campbell, in deep
agony, clapped his hand on his forehead, and exclaimed, " The curse of
God and of Glencoe is here, I am an unfortunate, ruined man !" He
instantly quitted the parade, and in a few days retired from the service.
"We will not enlarge upon the beautiful Loch-Ness, guarded as it is by
its mountains on either side, forming the Great Glen, of which the rotund
" Meall-fuar-mhonaidh " is not the least conspicuous. The hills of Mona-
liath, Strathnairn, Stratherrick, Glen-Uiquhart, LTrquhart Castle, Duncan,
and the vitrified Craig-Phadrig, are all objects of much interest and.
historic research. And where can be found more picturesque scenery
than in Strathglass, Glenaffric, Strathfarrar, Falls of Kilmorack, and all
along to the mountains and lochs of Morar, Glennevis, Glenelg, Kintail,
and Lochalsh ? The Skye railway has opened up landscapes in its course,
that are a marvel to the tourist as ho speeds along from Dingwall to
Strome.
The most celebrated of all our Northern lakes is Loch-Maree, a noble
sheet of water, about twenty miles long, and from three to four in breadth.
The mountains around it are of great height, and of a beautifully charac-
terised and irregular outline. It is ornamented by twenty-seven islands
of varied size and appearance. In a calm summer evening at sunset the
lake has an enchanting appearance. The lofty mountains, at their summit,
are tinged with golden rays, while in the hollows, nearer their base, they
are wreathed in mist, and light-floating clouds. It is a scene of enchant-
ment never to be forgotten. The white piqued summits of the File
mountain sparkle like the spires and turrets of an emerald palace, the
work of an Eastern magician, or of the Genii of Arabian romance, all
forming a splendid contrast to the dark and rugged " Sle"ugach,"* which
towers aloft from the opposite side of the lake.
Having thus taken a rapid glance at some of the most prominent
sights and scenes in Scotland, from south to north, we now proceed to
change the arena of our sketch. We bid farewell to the romantic land
of heroes that land of mountain and of flood, of tradition and of song,
of daring deeds and of warm-hearted hospitality, and ask the reader in our
next to accompany us to the Isles, where we shall see before us many
specimens of natural scenery in its wildest and most fantastic forms. In
the far-famed Isle of Skye we shall find all but inexhaustible examples
of all that is great and grand in the workmanship of nature.
(To be Continued.)
*Sliabhach=Slioch.
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 249
HISTORY OF THE CLAN MACKENZIE.
BY THE EDITOR.
[CONTINUED. |
-o-
THE MACKENZIES OF HILTON.
I. DUNCAN MACKENZIE, first of Hilton, and second son of Alexander
" lonraic," sixth Baron of Kin tail, by his first marriage with Anna Macdougal
of Dunolly, was designated by the title of the barony of Hilton, in
Strathbran, bounded on the north by Loch Fannich, on the south by
the ridge of the northern hills of Strathconan, on the east by Ach-nan-
Allt, and on the west by Ledgowan. A part of this barony lay in
Redcastle. He married a daughter of Ewen Cameron, XII. Baron of
Lochiel, and by her had one son, Allan, from whom the lineal suc-
cession of the family of Hilton runs as follows :
II. ALLAN MACKENZIE (after whom this branch of the Mackenzies was
called the " Clann Allan ") married a daughter of Alexander Dunbar of
Conzie and Kilbuiack, third son of the Sheriff of Moray. She afterwards,
on his death, married Kenneth, first of the barony of Allan, second law-
ful son of Hector Eoy, first Baron of Gairloch. By her Allan of Hilton
had two sons
1. Murdo, his heir.
2. John, ancestor of the Mackenzies of Loggie. [See genealogy of
this family.]
He was succeeded by his eldest son,
III. MURDOCH MACKENZIE, who married a daughter of Innes of Inver-
breakie, and by her had one son,
IV. JOHN MACKENZIE, who married Margaret, daughter of Dunbar of
Inchbrock, and by her had two sons and two daughters
1. Murdoch, his heir.
2. Colin, who, being educated at the University of Aberdeen, where
he received his degree of Master of Arts, applied himself to theology, and
became minister of Killearnan, in which station he died. He married a
lady of the name of Dundas, by whom he had several children, and of
whom was descended Kenneth Mackenzie, well known as deacon of the
goldsmiths in Edinburgh.
3. His eldest daughter married John Sinclair, a Caithness gentleman.
4. His second daughter married John Matheson, Lochalsh, father to
Farquhar Matheson, Fernaig, whose son John Matheson, first of Attadale,
was the progenitor of Alexander Matheson, now of Ardross and Lochalsh.
John was succeeded by his eldest son,
V. MURDOCH MACKENZIE, who married Mary, eldest daughter of
Murdoch Murchison of Auchtertyre, minister of Kintail, and by her had
five children
1. Alexander, his heir.
2. Roderick, married the eldest daughter of Alexander, thud son of
250 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
Mimlo Mackenzie, second of Redcastle, by whom lie had a son, Colin,
who died unmarried in 1682.
3. Colin, married Isobel, daughter of Donald Simson, Chamberlain of
Ferintosh, and by her had two sons, Alexander and Roderick, whose
lineal succession will be particularly detailed hereafter, when it has to be
shown how the grandson of Roderick came to carry on the main line as
XI. of Hilton. He also, had one natural son.
4. Murdoch, married Agnes Helen, daughter of Donald Taylor, one of
the Bailies of Inverness (1665), and by her had a son and daughter.
His son Alexander entered young into the service of Kenneth, Earl of
Seaforth, and in the year 1709 was made one of the chamberlains to
AVilliam, Earl of Seaforth. He married, in 1709, Katherine, daughter of
the Viscount of Stormont, by whom he had several children, whose
succession is unknown. The daughter, Jean, married Hector Mackenzie,
and by him had a son, Kenneth (a Jesuit in Spain, who died without
issue), and several daughters.
5. Isobel, married Donald Macrae, minister of Kintail.
Murdoch was succeeded by his eldest son,
VI. ALEXANDER MACKENZIE, who was twice married : first, to
Aunabella, second daughter of John Mackenzie, I. of Ord, without issue ;
secondly, to Sibella, eldest daughter of Roderick Mackenzie, I. of Apple-
cross. She was previously married to Alexander Macleod of Raasay,
and also to Thomas Graham of Drynie. By her he had one son and
successor,
VII. EVAN MACKENZIE, who married Elizabeth, daughter of Colin
Mackenzie, IV. of Redcastle, and by her had two sons and one daughter
1. John, his heir.
2. Colin, who after John carried on the line as IX. of Hilton.
3. Florence, who married Alexander Macrae, son of Donald Macrae,
minister of Kintail.
He was succeeded by his eldest son,
VIII. JOHN MACKENZIE, who married a daughter of Thomas Mackenzie,
IV. of Ore], by Mary, fourth daughter of John Mackenzie, III. of Apple-
cross. He joined the Earl of Mar in 1715, and was killed in the
Chevalier's service at Sheritfmuir, where he commanded a company of the
Mackenzies. Having no issue, he was succeeded by his next brother,
IX. COLIN MACKENZIE, who married Catherine, daughter of Christo-
pher Macrae of Arrinhugair. He matriculated himself in the Lyon
Herald's office, and received for his armorial bearing, AZURE, a hart's head
caboss'd, and attired OR, a Highland dirk, shafted gules between the atter-
ings for difference. Above the shield a helmet befitting his degree, with
a mantle gules doubling argent and a wreath of his colours is set. For
his crest, two hands holding a two-handed sword in bend proper. He
died in 1756, aged 65 years, leaving two sons and one daughter
1. John, who married Helen, daughter of Roderick Mackenzie, VII. of
Fairburn. He had no issue, and pre-deceased his father in 1751.
2. Alexander, who succeeded his father.
3. A daughter, married to John Macdonell, XIII. of Glengarry.
He was succeeded by his eldest surviving son,
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 251
X. ALEXANDER MACKENZIE, who married Mary, daughter of George
Mackenzie, II. of Gruinard. He died without legitimate issue, but left
a natural sou, Alexander, well known and still kindly spoken of as
" Alastair Mor Mac Fhir Bhaile Chnuc," or " Big Alexander, son of the
Laird of Hilton." He was Seaforth's principal and most successful re-
cruiting sergeant when raising the 78th Highlanders, and many curious
stories are still related of Alastair Mor's generally successful efforts to
procure willing, and sometimes hesitating, recruits for the regiment of his
chief, Alexander married Annabella Mackenzie, who long outlived him,
and was well known and highly respected for many years as " Banntrach
an t-Shearsan," in Strath bran. Alastair was always a conspicuous figure
at the Ross-shire markets, where his popularity and address secured many
a recruit for the famous " Buffs." Many of his descendants, in the third
generation, occupy responsible positions throughout the country.
He was succeeded in the estates and barony by the heir of line (next
of male kin), Alexander Mackenzie, great-grandson of Colin, third son of
Murdoch Mackenzie, V. of Hilton.
The male line of Alexander Mackenzie, the sixth baron, having be-
come extinct, the heir and representative was sought for among the issue
of his brothers. The next brother was Roderick, who, as already shown,
left one son, Colin, who, in 1682, died without issue. The next was Colin,
who, by Isobel Simson, his wife, left two sons
1. Alexander (Sanders), who became chamberlain to Culloden. He
married Helen, daughter of William Munro of Ardullie, and by her had
two sons and two daughters (1) Colin, who died unmarried, but left a
natural son, Alexander, from whom are several respectable families in
Ferrintosh. (2) Donald, who married Jean, daughter of Thomas Forbes
of Raddery, and of the Fortrose lands as far as Ethie, His burying-
ground was within the Fortrose Cathedral, on the western gable of
which is a tablet in his memory, erected by Helen Stewart his wife. By
her he had one son, Alexander, drowned with his father in 1759
when fording the Conon opposite Dingwall, and then the son being
unmarried perished the legitimate male succession of his paternal
grandfather, Alexander. Donald had also several daughters (1) Mary,
married Colin Mackenzie, minister of Fodderty, and first of the family
of Glack. She was with her father, but was saved Avhen he was drowned,
proceeding to visit her mother who was at the time ill ; (2) Jean, married
Colin Murchison ; (3) Isobel, married David Ross ; (4) another married
Mr Mackenzie of Ussie, and had two sons, Donald and Frank ; (5) Anne,
married Lewis Grant ; and (6) Helen, married Alexander Mackenzie of
Ardnagrask, afterwards at Logic-side, from whose son, Bailie John. Mac-
kenzie of Inverness, are numerous descendants. Alexander's (Sanders)
eldest daughter, Mary, married Donald Murchison, son of John Murchison
of Auchtertyre; the second, Elizabeth, married William Martin of Inch f lire,
whose daughter, Annie, was celebrated for her beauty, and married Norman,
XVIII. Baron of Macleod.
,;.y!j 2. Roderick, who in wadset acquired Brea in Ferintosh, which remained
in the family for two generations. By marriage he acquired the ruined
castle of Dingwall (the ancient residence of the Earls of Ross) and its
lands, as also the lands of Longcroft. He was called Mr Rory Mackenzie
252 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
of Brea, and married Una (Winifred), daughter of John Cameron, town-
clerk of Dingwall, by whom he had three sons (1) John Mackenzie of
Brea, called, "John the Laird," who married in 1759, Beatrix, daughter
of Alexander Mackenzie, eighth of Davochmaluak, by Magdalen, daughter
of Hugh Rose, XIII. of Kilmvock, and by her had seven sons and four
daughters. He resided at Tarradale. The sons were Eorie, died un-
married ; Alexander, who succeeded as XL of Hilton, and of whom here-
after ; Kenneth of Inverinate, who married Anne, daughter of Thomas
Mackenzie, IV. of Highfield, and VII. of Applecross (by a daughter
of Mackenzie, V. of Kilcoy) by whom he had two sons and six daugh-
ters Thomas, who succeeded as X. OF APPLECROSS [see Geiicalo^y
of that Family] ; Alexander, who married Harriet, daughter of Newton of
Curriehill, by whom he had four children Kenneth, 'died unmarried ;
Alexander, a lieutenant in the Eoyal Engineers, died unmarried ; Marion,
married Charles Holmes, barrister, without issue ; Harriet, unmarried.
Kenneth's six daughters were Jane, died unmarried ; Elizabeth, married
her cousin, Colonel John Mackenzie, XII. of Hilton; Flora, married Rev.
Charles Downie ; Catherine, Mary, and JoKanna, died unmarried.
The other sons and the daughters of " John the Laird " were Colin,
"the Baron," born at Tarradale, 3d December 1759, died unmarried;
Peter, died unmarried ; Duncan, married Jessie Mackenzie, daughter of
Mackenzie of Strathgarve, without issue ; Arthur died unmarried ; Mag-
dalen, died unmarried ; Marcella (Medley), married the Rev. Dr Downie ;
Anne, died unmarried; Mary, married, in 1790, the Rev. Donald Mac-
kenzie, minister of Fodderty ; Elizabeth, died unmarried.
Roderick's second son was (2) Colin Mackenzie, minister of Fodderty,
first of the family of Glack [see Glack Genealogy] ; his third was (3) Peter
Mackenzie, M.D., a surgeon-general of the Army, and a knight of Nova
Scotia died unmarried.
Alexander was succeeded by
XL ALEXANDER MACKENZIE, second son of John Mackenzie of Brea,
already shown to be the great-grandson of Colin, third son of the V.
Baron of Hilton, and his heir of line, who succeeded as XL of Hilton.
He was born at Tigh-a-Phris, Ferintosh, on the 3d July 1756 ; educated
at the University of Aberdeen, and afterwards bred a millwright, to
qualify him for the supervision of family estates in the West Indies.
He became a Colonel of local militia in Jamaica. Subsequently, upon
the death of his maternal grandfather, and of his cousin, Lieutenant
Kenneth Mackenzie, at Saratoga, he succeeded to the estate of Davoch-
maluag. The adjacent properties of Davochpollan and Davochcairn, hav-
ing been already acquired by his father, were by him added to Davochmaluag,
and to the combined properties he gave the name of Brea, after the former
possession of his family in the Black Isle. He was a distinguished agricul-
turist, and was, with Sir George Mackenzie of Coul, and Major Forbes Mac-
kenzie, the first to introduce Cheviot sheep to the Highlands, for
their waste lands. He greatly improved the estate of Brea, in Strathpeft'er,
and laid it out in its present beautiful form. His land improvements,
however, proved unremunerative ; and his Hilton estates were heavily en-
cumbered in consequence of the part taken by the family in the Risings of
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 253
1696, 1 715, and 1745, and great losses having been incurred in connection
with the West Indian properties, this laird got into pecuniary difficulties,
and the whole of his possessions, at home and abroad, were sold either by
himself or by his trustees. He married Mary James in Jamaica, and by
her had four children
1. John, his heir.
2. Alexander, who married his cousin Charlotte, daughter of the Rev,
Dr Downie, and died in Australia, leaving issue eight children (1) Alex-
ander, unmarried ; (2) Downie, died unmarried ; (3) John ; (4) Kenneth,
who married Miss Macdonald, a grand-daughter of Macleod of Guesto ; (5)
Charles, unmarried ; (6) William, unmarried ; (7) Mary James, married
to her cousin, Kenneth Mackenzie, XIV. of Hilton; and (8) Jessie,
unmarried.
3. Kenneth, a W.S., who married Anne Urquhart, without issue. He
married, secondly, Elizabeth Jones, with issue, and died in Canada, where
his widow and children reside, in Toronto.
4. Mary, unmarried, living in Australia, very aged, in 1878.
He died at Lasswade, and was succeeded as representative of the
family by his eldest son.
XII. JOHN MACKENZIE, Colonel of the 7th Kegiruent of Bengal
Cavalry, and for many years superintendent of the Government breeding
stud at Buxar. He married, in 1813, Elizabeth, daughter of his uncle,
Kenneth Mackenzie of Inverinate, and died at Simla in 1856, leaving two
sons and three daughters
1. Alexander, his successor.
2. Kennetli, who became XIV. of Hilton.
3. Mary, who married Dr James, late of the 30th Eegirnent of Foot.
4. Anne, married General Arthur Hall, late 5th Bengal Cavalry,
5. Elizabeth Jane, unmarried.'
He was succeeded by his eldest son,
XIII. ALEXANDER MACKENZIE, who died in 1862, in New South
Wales, unmarried. He was succeded by his brother,
XIV. KENNETH MACKENZIE, the present representative of the ancient
family of Hilton, residing at Tyrl-Tyrl, Taralga, near Sydney. He married
Mary James, a daughter of Alexander Mackenzie, his uncle, and by her
he has three sons and two daughters
1, John; 2, Kenneth; 3, Downie; 4, Flora; and 5, Jessie.
THE MACKENZIES OF GLACK.
The second cadet of the House of Hilton, of whom any family of note
is descended, was COLIN MACKENZIE, third son of Murdoch, the V. of
Hilton. This gentleman had two sons. The eldest was Alexander, whose
male issue as appears in the Hilton genealogy became extinct in 1759,
when his grandson Alexander was drowned, but his succession in the
female line was carried on by his grand-daughter, Mary, who married
Colin Mackenzie, first of Glack. The second son was Roderick, desig-
nated of Brea. He married Una (Winifred), daughter of John Cameron
of Longcroft. -His grandson, Alexander, succeeded as XI. of Hilton.
The second son of Roderick of Brea, born in 1707, became
254 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
I. COLIN .MACKENZIE, first of Glack. Ho was educated at the University
of Aberdeen, and afterwards, in I 734, settled as minister of Fodderty. He
was on terms of intimacy with Duncan Forbes of Culloden, the celebrated
Lord President, with whom he maintained a constant correspondence ;
and this, with his clerical calling, kept him from taking any part in the
Eising of 1745, although all his sympathies were with the Jacobites.
He, in his district, received the earliest news of the landing of Prince
Charles, which, reaching him at night, he at once crossed Knockfarrel
to Brahan, where, finding Seafbrth* in bed, without awaking his lady, he
told him what had. happened. Seaforth having only lately had his estate
restored to him, Avas not disposed to show ingratitude to the Government,
and was easily prevailed upon to disappear from Brahan at least for a timo.
He therefore left for the West Coast during the night unknown to
any one, accompanied by Colin Mackenzie, just as^the Prince's army
was on its march eastward. Both were in retirement near Poolewe
when two ships laden with Seaforth's retainers from the Lews sailed
into the loch, who were at once directed to return to Stornoway, Sea-
forth waving towards them with the jaw-bone of a sheep, which he was
picking for his dinner. In this way, it is said, was fulfilled one of
the predictions of the Brahan Seer " That next time the men of Lews
should go forth to battle, they would be beaten back by a weapon
smaller than the jaw-bone of an ass."
Meantime, Seaforth's lady, not knowing the whereabouts or intentions
of her husband, entertained the Prince at Brahan Castle, and urged upon the
aged Earl of Cromarty and his son, Lord Macleod, to call out the clans-
men. Subsequently, when the Earl of Cromarty and Lord Macleod Avere
confined in the Tower of London, for taking part in this rebellion, and
when the Countess with her ten children, and bearing a twelfth, Avere suffer-
ing the severest hardships and penury, it Avas this Colin Mackenzie who,
at great risk to himself, voluntarily collected the rents from the tenants
(giving them his own receipt, in security against their being required to make
second payment to the Government commissioners), and carried the
money to her ladyship in London. In recognition of this, he Avas after-
wards appointed, by Lord Macleod, chaplain to Macleod's Highlanders,
raised by his lordship now the 71st Highland Light Infantry. This
appointment proved more honorary than lucrative, as he had to furnish a
substitute, at his own expense, to perform the duties pertaining to the
office. It was also he who first recognised the health-giving properties of
the Strathpeffer mineral spring, and Avho, by erecting a covered shed
over it, placed it in a condition from that day to benefit the suffering. He
inherited a. considerable fortune in gold from his father, and from his mother
the ruined castle of Diugwall (the old seat of the Earls of Ross) and its
lands, as also the lands of Longcroft. He gave the site of the castle of
Dingwall, then valued at 300, to Henry Davidson of Tulloch, as a con-
tribution towards the erection of a manufactory Avhich he proposed to
establish for the employment of the surplus male and female labour in
Dingwall and its neighbourhood, but Avhich Avas never commenced. He
sold its other lands, and those of Longcroft, to his nepheAv, Alexander
* We shall continue, as the must couveuitnt course, to call him Seafortb, though at
this period the title bad been forfeited,
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
Mackenzie, XI. of Hilton. Subsequently, he purchased the estate of
Glack, in Aberdeenshire, by the name of which he was afterwards des-
ignated. Shortly before his death in 1801, in his ninety-fifth year,
he conducted the opening services of the Parish Church of Ferintosh
(Urqubart), towards the erection of which he largely contributed, to
commemorate the saving and washing ashore of his wife upon her horse
near its site, when her father and only brother were drowned. He was
twice married. First to Margaret (not Jean, as stated in the Spalding
Club volume of the Kilravock papers), daughter of Hugh, IV. of Clava,
by whom he had issue an only daughter, Margaret, who, on 22d Septem-
ber 1746, died young. He married, secondly, his second cousin, Mary,
eldest daughter of Donald Mackenzie, at Balnabeen, by his wife Jean,
daughter of Thomas Forbes of Raddery, a Bailie of Fortrose, in whose
memory a tablet is erected on the Cathedral there, bearing the following
inscription : " Sub spe beatae resurectionis in Domino, hie conduntur
ceneres Thomae Forbesii quondam ballivi Fortrossensis, mortui 21,
Sepulti 25 Maii J699, qui in indicium grati erga Deum animi et
charitates erga homines 1200 lib. Scot, ad sustentandam evangelii prsedica-
tionem hac in urbe dicavit. Monumentum mariti unpeusis extmendum
curavit Helena Stuart relicta conjux hie etiarn sexpeleindiam sperans."
By her who, as already shown, carried on, in the female line, the suc-
cession of Alexander (Sanders), eldest son of "Colin, third son of Murdo,
fifth of Hilton he had three sons and eight daughters
1. Roderick, his heir.
2. Donald, educated in theology at the University of Edinburgh,
appointed minister of Fodderty and chaplain to the 71st Regiment of
Highlanders his father having resigned these offices in his favour. He was
noted as a humourist, and said to be at heart more imbued with the spirit
of a soldier than with that of a minister. He was twice married ; first,
to Mary, daughter to his uncle, John Mackenzie of Brea (" The Laird "),
and by her had two sons and two daughters Colin, a Colonel of Royal
Engineers, married Anne Petgrave, daughter of John Pendril of Bath,
without issue ; John, of whom afterwards as IV. of Glack ; Elizabeth,
who married Lieutenant Stewart, R.N., with issue ; and Mary, died un-
married.
3. Forbes, a Captain in the North British (Ross-shire) Militia, after-
wards Major in the East of Ross Militia, and for thirty-seven years a
Deputy-Lieutenant of the county. He was a noted agriculturist. It
was he who, at Muirton of Barra, in Aberdeenshire, first cleared land
of large boulders, by blasting with powder, then building them
into fences. He reclaimed and laid out the greater part of StrathpefTer,
where, on Fodderty, he was the first to apply lime to land, and to grow
wheat north of the Forth. He was the first to import Clydesdale horses
and shorthorn cattle into the Northern Counties ; and was, as mentioned
elsewhere with Sir George Mackenzie of Coul and his cousin Hilton
the first to introduce Cheviot sheep into the Highlands. He married
Catherine, daughter of Angus Nicolson, Stornoway, and grand-daughter
of the gentleman who commanded and brought to Poolewe, for Prince
Charles's standard, the 300 men sent back by Seaforth to the LBAVS, already
mentioned. By her he had three sons and three daughters (1) Nicolson,
256 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
a surgeon in the Army, unmarried, wrecked near Pictou, in 1853,
and there drowned attempting to save the lives of others ; ('2)
Roderick, heir of entail to Foveran, a Colonel in the Royal Artillery,
married, in 1878, to Caroline Sophia, daughter of J. A. Beaumont of
Wimbledon Park ; (3) Thomas, a Major in the 78th Highlanders ; (4)
Mary, married the Rev. John Kennedy, D.D., Dingwall, by whom
she has two daughters Jessie, unmarried ; and Mary, married John
Matheson, Madras, son of the late Rev. Duncan Matheson, Gairloch ;
Dorothy Blair, died unmarried. (5) Catherine Eunice, married to the
late Adam Alexander Duncan of ^aughton, Fife, by whom she has one
daughter ; and (6) Catherine Henrietta Adamina.
4. Anne, married Hector Mackenzie, a Bailie of Dingwall, and son of
Alexander Mackenzie of Tollie, by his second wife, Catherine, daughter
of Bayne of Delny, and younger half-brother of Alexander Mackenzie,
first of Portinore.
5. Mary, married John Mackenzie of Kincraig, and IX. of Redcastle.
6. Joanna, married Dr Millar, in the Lews.
7. Una, died unmarried.
8. Beatrix, married Peter Hay, a Bailie of Dingwall.
9. Isabella, died unmarried.
10, Jean, married the Rev. Colin Mackenzie, minister of Stornoway.
He was succeeded by his eldest son,
II. RODERICK MACKENZIE, who was twice married ; first to Margaret,
daughter of Sir Alexander Mackenzie, Bart., IX. of Gairloch, without
issue ; and secondly, to Christina, daughter of John Niven, brother to
Clava, by whom he had four sons and four daughters
1. Harry, died unmarried, in 1828.
2. John, of whom afterwards as III. of Glack.
3. Roderick, of Thornton, died unmarried, in 1858.
4. James, a Major in 72d Highlanders, died unmarried, in India, in 1 857.
5. Mary, became Lady Leith of Westhall, Inveramsay and Thornton,
in her own right, and is now the widow of the late General Sir Alexander
Leith, K.C.B., of Freefield and Glenkindie without issue.
6. Racliael, died unmarried.
7. Christina., of Foveran, died unmarried.
8. Jean Forbes Una, died unmarried.
He was succeeded by his second and eldest surviving son,
III. JOHN MACKENZIE, who inherited Thornton from his brother
Roderick, Foveran from his sister Christina, and acquired Inveramsay by
purchase. He died unmarried, in 1877, and was succeeded by his cousin,
a son of his uncle Donald,
IV. JOHN MACKENZIE, fourth and now of Glack, who was twice
married ; first to Anne, daughter of Thomas Macgill, without issue ; and
secondly, to Margaret Campbell, daughter of John Pendrill, Bath, by
whom he has three sons and two daughters
1. Duncan Campbell, Rector of Shephall, married to Louisa, daughter
of Colonel 0. G. Nicolls, by whom he has three sons and four daughters
Donald, a Lieutenant in the Royal Marines ; Alan, Lieutenant in the
Highland Rifle Militia ; Malcolm, Helen, Edith, Lilian, and Amy,
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 257
2. John Pendrill, married to Adelaide, daughter of Colonel Henry
Thornton, by who he has two daughter* -Lucy Eleanor, and Margaret
Pendrill.
3. Roderick B., married Josepha P., daughter of R. Ignatius Robert-
son, without issue.
4. Margaret Campbell Pendrill, unmarried,
5. Mary, unmarried,
THE MACKENZIES OF LOGGIE.
ALLAN MACKENZIE, second of Hilton, had, by his wife, daughter
of Alexander Dunbar of Conzie, third son of the Sheriff of Moray, two
sons. The eldest, Murdoch, we have seen, succeeded him, The second,
John, was served heir to and designated of Loggie, a barony situated in
the parish of the same name, now forming the western portion of the
more modern parish of Urquhart, in the Black Isle.
I. JOHN MACKENZIE, first of Loggie, was the oldest cadet of the Housa
of Hilton. From him descended several persons distinguished for their
literary attainments and valour. He married a daughter of Mackenzie
of Gairloch (supposed to be John, the second baron), by whom he had one
son, who succeeded him,
II. ALLAN MACKENZIE, who married a daughter of Alastair Roy
Mackenzie of Achilty, by whom he had two sons
1. Donald, his heir.
2. Will lam (Murdoch ?) who left an only daughter married to Murdoch
Mackenzie, first of Little Findon, third son of Alexander Mackenzie of
Killichrist, II. of Suddie.
He was succeeded by his eldest son,
III. DONALD MACKENZIE, who was three times married ; first to
Catherine, fourth daughter of Murdoch Mackenzie, II. of Redcastle,
without issue. He married secondly, Annabella, eldest daughter, by his
second marriage, of Alexander Mackenzie, IV. of Gairloch. By her he
had four sons and three daughters
1. Colin, educated in medicine at the University of Aberdeen, and,
going abroad, studied at Lyden and Paris unde 1 ' the most famous pro-
fessors. Having received his degree of Doctor of Medicine at Hie Uni-
versity of Rheims, ]\Q returned to his own country. But his adoption of
extravagant theological doctrines, and his immoral conduct in his youth,
caused him to be 'disinherited by his father, whereon he again returned to
his travels. Having stayed abroad for several years, he returned to Inver-
ness, where he practised medicine with good success, and had a yearly
pension settled on him until his death, which happened there, at a great
age, in February 1708. Although a great admirer of the fair sex,
and even made choice of one of them for his spiritual guide, the learned
gentleman died unmarried. The lady was the famous Antonia Bourignon
who pretended to show that Christianity was quite worn out in the world,
and that she was sent by God to restore it upon the old footing, as it was
established at first by Christ and his Apostles, She left behind her
258 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
nineteen volumes upon spiritual u;utters, published iu several languages,
of which there were in English, " The Light of the .World," " Solid
Virtue," and " The Light risen in darkness."
2. Alexander, his successor.
3. John, educated in theology at the University of Aberdeen, and for
several years chaplain to General Major Mackay's Regiment. After the
Revolution he was appointed minister of Kirkliston, near Edinburgh, from
which he soon retired to London, arid having died there unmarried, was
buried in St Martin's Church, Westminster.
4. Murdoch, who succeeded as V. of Loggie.
5. Margaret, first married to Eorie Mackenzie, IV. of Fairburn ;
secondly, to Hector Mackenzie of Bishop-Kinkell.
6. Christian, married John Mackenzie, I. of Gruinard.
7. Annabella, married Mackenzie of Loggie, in Lochbroom.
He married thirdly, Anne, daughter of the Rev. Donald Morrison,
minister in the Lews, by whom he had an only daughter, who married
Angus Morrison, minister of Contin. He had also a natural son, Rory, a
captain in the confederate army under King William, who dird m
Holland unmarried, and is said to have been a gentleman of groat iuuuur
and generosity. He was succeeded by his second son,
IV. ALEXANDER MACKENZIE, who was twice married; first, in 1667, to
Jean, daughter of Alexander Mackenzie of Ballone ; and secondly, to
Catherine, second daughter of William Mackenzie of Belmaduthy, without
issue by either. He was succeeded by his brother,
V. MURDOCH MACKENZIE, who was educated at the University of
Aberdeen, but his inclination leading him to the Army, he entered
the Earl of Dumbarton's Regiment, where, by his merit and valour,
he soon raised himself to the rank of captain. In Moninouth's rebeDion,
he and his company attacked the enemy with such bravery and resolution,
that excepting the officers there were only nine of his men who were
not either wounded or killed; and he himself had the honour of taking
the Duke of Moninouth's standard, wresting it out of the standard-bearer's
hand, and afterwards presenting it to King James VII. at Whitehall.
For this service he Avas promoted to a colonelcy. He died in London,
and was buried at St Martin's Church, Westminster. Ho married an
English lady, by whom he had two sons and three daughters
1. Murdoch, his heir.
2. George, a youth of promising parts, killed in a duel.
There is no record of the names or marriage of the daughters. He was
succeeded by his son,
VI. MURDOCH MACKENZIE, who continued to reside in London. If
any representatives of his line still exist, they will confer a favour by
forwarding a note of their descent, that the succession of this old family
may be continued in the History of the Clan Mackenzie, r.ow passing
through the press in book form.
(To be Corttlnwd.)
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 259
CUE GAELIC BIBLE.
V.
COULD THE HIGHLANDERS OF 1807 READ IT ?
ON the 23d of March 1825 was held at Inverness the first General Meet-
ing of the "Northern Institution for the Promotion of Science and Litera-
ture." The Institution was ushered into the world with a good deal of
eclat, and with the promise of a career which we fear has not been rea-
lised. Its published list of honorary members contains the names of Sir
James Mackintosh ; Sir Walter Scott ; Henry Mackenzie, the Man of
Feeling ; General Stewart of Garth ; Sir John Sinclair ; Corrymony ;
Glengarry ; and Professors Hooker, Buckland, Brewster, and Tulloch.
The first name on its list of corresponding members Rev. Charles Clou-
ston, Stromness, Orkney has well fulfilled the promise of its place. To
an old Clach-na-cudain boy its list of ordinary members reads like a roll-
call of the dead : Provost Robertson ; Dr Rose ; Mr Clark; Dean Fyvie;
Roderick Reach, father yet the prince of the whole tribe of " Own.
Correspondents;" Rector Scott; George and James Suter; DrNicol;
Parson Duncan Mackenzie ; Rev. Hugh Urquhart, Montreal ; Shepherd,
Belford, the Mactavishes, and John Macandrew, of the local bar ; Banker
John Mackenzie, Banker Ross, and Robert Logan; Rev. Donald Mac-
kenzie of Foddsrty ; Charles L. Robertson ; Lachlan Camming of the
Customs ; Dr Mackintosh ; Dr Tolmie of Campbelltown ; and, perhaps
the best beloved of them all, James Murray Grant of Glenmoriston.
These have all gone over to the majority. A few, like Mr Joseph
Mitchell and " Duncan Davidson, younger of Tulloch, M.P.," still serve
the generations of their children, and could perhaps a tale unfold of the
life and work of the all-but-torgotten Northern Institution. But we must
not linger, whether in the shade of the cypress or with the light on the
laurel. Nor can we stop as much as to glance at the other published lists,
viz. communications read at the meetings of the Institution, and dona-
tions made to its once flourishing Museum. We owe our introduction to
the Institution to a little work with a long title, which we now introduce
to the readers of the Celtic M<.itj<tzliM. It is entitled a " Prize Essay on
the State of Society and Knowledge in the Highlands of Scotland, parti-
cularly in the Northern Counties, at the period of the Rebellion in 1745,
and of their progress up to the Establishment of the Northern Institution
for the Promotion of Science and Literature in 18'25. By John Ander-
son, AVriter to the Signet, Secretary to the Society of Antiquaries. Edin-
burgh : William Tait, 1827."
At page 108 of this book we have the following statement: "The
instruction in the schools till the commencement of the present century
was entirely in the English tongue" ; and again, " the efforts of the teacher
were confined to training his pupils to read instead of leading them to
comprehend the import of English composition." Then comes on
the same page in a foot-note the following extract from the letter of
a Highland clergyman, addressed to an intimate friend of the writer.
" As to the Education of the Highlanders, it will never be accom.-
260 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
plished until a different system from the present one bj adopted. Pray,
what is the use of forcing children to read and repeat what they do not
understand ? I could find thousands in the Highlands of Scotland who
will read the English Bible tolerably well, but cannot understand more
than 'yes or no.' Being thus obliged to continue reading a language
completely unintelligible to them, it gives them no pleasure, but rather
disgust ; and the moment they leave school, if they remain at home in
those districts where nothing but their mother-tongue is spoken, they lay
their books aside, and never look at them more. I know some men who
were at Inverness at their education sixty years ago ; they could read and
write when they left school, and to-day they cannot read any. How, in
God's name, could the people be expected to read even in their own lan-
guage, when their pastors could not read or write that language, although
they preached it to the poor people ? The clergy read no more than the
text, whereas if they would read every Lord's-day, a chapter or two out
of the Holy Scriptures, the people in that case would be inclined to bring
their Bibles to the Kirk, and they would follow the minister. Even in
the present day, I venture to say that there are a few of the Presbyterian
clergy in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, that cannot read a cliap-
ter out of the Gaelic Bible." It is to be regretted that Mr Anderson does
not give the name of the writer of this letter. As it stands it is not only
anonymous, but it shows an evident tendency to exaggeration of state-
ment, and does not altogether conceal the cloven foot of odium theologi-
cum as regards the " Presln/terian clergy." But, on the other hand, it
must be remembered that the letter is practically indorsed, not only by
Mr Anderson, who uniformly expresses his views with moderation, but
also by the Northern Institution, which adjudged him a prize for his
essay. And it cannot be denied that the stories, always ludicrous and
sometimes very indelicate, still circulating in the northern Highlands,
whose point turns entirely on some outrageous blunder of the pigeon Gaelic
once spoken from the pulpits of, say Gairloch or Petty or Kingussie, do
undoubtedly lend some colour to the taunt that, at the beginning of the
century, a few of the Highland clergy could not read a chapter of the
Gaelic Bible from which they gave out their text. At the same time, it
is only fair to say that, although the memory of men now living goes
easily back to a period when the clergy of the north, at least in the rural
parishes, never read a chapter of the Gaelic or the English Bible in the
ordinary service of the sanctuary, there were yet the "readers" who, as to
this day in the Protestant Church of France, regularly read large portions
of Scripture to the people before the minister entered the pulpit. We,
ourselves, remember well that this was the uniform practice in the parish
Church of Knockbain, in times as recent as 1842. Mr Colin Mackenzie,
afterwards minister successively of Petty and Contin, was then the paro-
chial schoolmaster of Knockbain, and for about an hour every Sunday
morning, before the arrival of the minister, he regularly read the Gaelic
Bible to a large assembly of devout and deeply interested Highlanders.
And in the Gaelic Church of Edinburgh, down to 1843, a part of the pre-
centor's salary was regularly entered in the; cash book of the Church as
paid to the "reader" of the congregation.
But when, from such considerations, the largest possible allowance has
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 261
been made, there still remains the fact that a great part of the indictment
just quoted from Mr Anderson's essay against the early educationists of
the Highlands stands unchallenged and uuchallengable. Our readers have
not forgotten that as early as 1616 it was the belief of the Privy Council
of Scotland, solemnly embodied in the Parochial School Act, that " the
Irishe language was one of the chieff and principall causes of the continu-
ance of barbaritie and incivilitie among the inhabitants of the Isles and
Heylandis"; and that therefore it ought peremptorily to be "abolished
and removit," and "the vulgar Inglishe toung universallie planted." And
there can be no doubt that the founders of the Society for Propagating
Christian Knowledge had not emancipated themselves from the bonds of
the same unhappy error. The most conclusive evidence of this will be
found in " An Account of the Eise, Constitution, and Management of the
Society. Edinburgh: William Brown, 1720": a publication which was
widely circulated by the Society as its official appeal for increased public
support. For example, No. 8 of the Rules for Schoolmasters, as set forth
in this publication, enjoins " that as soon as the scholars can read compg-
tently well, the master shall teach them to write a fair legible hand, and
also instruct them in the elements and most necessary rules of arithmetic,
that they may thereby be rendered more useful in their several stations in
the world, but not any Latin or Irish," p. 35. Again, rule 14 enjoins
that " the Society's Schoolmasters are discharged to teach Latine or Irish,"
p. 37. There can be no mistake as to the real intention of this rule. The
writer of the work was himself an office-bearer of the society. It was in
fact the Society's Official Manifesto. And yet it points with pride, and
as a brilliant proof to the efficiency of the schools, to a certain Presbyte-
rial Report happily not named, which states that within the bounds of
the Presbytery the Society's Schools had been so successful " that Barba-
rity and the Irish Language in that place by their means are almost rooted
out," p. 43.* The same work makes 110 secret of the Society's design
on the old religion of the Highland people: for " the first proposal was
that, as Popish parents would not send theii children to be taught the
Bible and Catechism, therefore little hospitals should be erected where the
children of Popish parents should be taken in, and provided for with all
necessaries while at school. But this was found too great an expense,"
p. 38.
Up to 1738, when Alexander Macdonald's Gaelic and English Voca-
bulary was published, there was no Gaelic book of any kind used in the
* Contrast with this the following extract from Dr John Gonlou's " Education
Scherap of the Church of Scotland from its origin in 1825 to 1872. Black wood 1878."
An inspection of the Assembly Schools in Argyleshire enabled the Convener and Secre-
tary (1832) to report how far, and in what manner, the rule in regard to Gaelic reading
was observed in the schools of that district : " One feature of these schools is not com-
monly found elsewhere the pupils of all ages are for the most part instructed in two
languages in Gaelic, because it is the spoken language of the place, and in obedience to
the instructions of the directors. The English, again, is taught, and almost from the
commencement, because the people desire it, and will nowhere be without it. Accord-
ingly, there is in all these schools the interesting sight of children engagid in a conflict
with two languages. The compound nature of the task exhilarates their spirits, begets
a habit of activity and alertness, and develops their understandings e.g., when a pupil
has become able to read, he translates alternately from the one tongue to the other, till
the language he has learned from books becomes only not so familiar as that which lie ia
accustomed to speak. He is taught to render not merely word for word, but, in some
instances, to convert whole sentences involving differences of idiom," p. 40.
262 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
Society's schools. The Mother's Catechism was translated in 1758, but
as late even as 1811 we find " that any who can read their own language
have been taught orally, there being no Gaelic Spelling-Book hitherto in
use, nor even in existence " (Gaelic School Society's Report.*, vol. i., page
10).
It is true that in 1774 the Society for Propagating Christian Know-
ledge did slightly relax the stringency of its rule against teaching Gaelic.
In a detailed statement then published (Edinburgh : A. Murray) of the
most material regulations respecting schoolmasters, the Society brings it-
eelf on this head so far as to say thai the schoolmasters are "to teach the
scholars to read and speak the English tongue and to translate Gaelic into
English." But that was the utmost relaxation that could be allowed.
Stringent precautions were to be taken in regard to the schoolmasters'
knowledge of the principles of religion, their skill in reading and writing,
their known prudence, loyalty, and piety, and their taking the oaths pre-
scribed by law. They were required also diligently to instruct their
scholars in the principles of the true Protestant Reformed religion. But
as regards the vital matter of the only language understood by the people,
the utmost point that had been reached, and reached apparently by slow
and reluctant steps, was "teach them to read and speak English and
translate Gaelic into English."
It is also true that forty years later this Society recognised very fully
the importance of using the language of the hearth in th<^ work of the
school. But by the time these more enlightened views came thus to be
generally adopted by educators, the educated, or rather the parents who
had the control of the children under education, had themselves firmly
adopted the opposite prejudice, against which at first they had proudly
rebelled. When, after a long transition period of neglect following upon
the Reformation, the schoolmaster was first sent down to the Highland
glens, his openly proclaimed mission was " English, Loyalty, the true
Protestant Faith." There was no attempt to gild the pill or sugar it.
The pill may be bitter, but you have just to take it : It's to do you good :
It's to purge you of the atrobilious dregs of rebellion, Popery, and your
wild Irishe tongue, that "chieff and principall cause of barbaritie and in-
civilitie." Open your mouth then and swallow. No wonder that the
Highlanders resisted, and in some cases resented with violence so drastic
a system of education. But like the conquered Germans of Alsace and
Lorraine, who soon became more French than their conquerors, the High-
landers, unconquered and unconquerable on the battle-field, adopted as
true Gospel the educational heresy which at first they spurned with in-
dignation. The double change of front thus not unnaturally effected
makes a pretty educational show in the following extract, which is taken
from the report of " a sub-committee on the visitation of schools " em-
bodied in the General Report of the Society for 1825 : " The sub-com-
mittee regrets to find that the teaching of Gaelic has been very much
neglected, even in districts where that language is almost exclusively
used and understood by the inhabitants. The committee is satisfied that
this arises from the feelings and prejudices of the people, in whose minds
there is a strong prejudice against the use of Gaelic as a school language
a prejudice which has been found in full strength even where the
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 263
older people could themselves use no other language. The Society, how-
ever, observe that so long as the children talk no other language but
Gaelic, it is a mere waste of time and entirely vain to burden their
memories with a vocabulary of dead and unmeaning English sounds.
The Society therefore resolve that in Gaelic districts it is most essentially
necessary that that language should be taught in the first instance, and
that the English should not be taught to any till they, have made such
proficiency in the -former as to enable them fully to comprehend the
meaning of what they learn to read in the latter." [p. 26.]
By this time the Gaelic School Society had been thirteen years
in existence, and it is not unlikely that the experience of the daughter
Society may have had some effect in modulating to this altered key the
later music of the mother.
Be that as it may, we do not know of any picture of the educational
state of the Highlands at the commencement of the present century so
complete and so expressive as that which is presented in the first volume
of this younger Society's reports (1810-1816). The great aim of this
new Society is thus expressed in the first public declaration of its
founders : " The translation of the Sacred Scriptures into Gaelic, and their
publication under the patronage of the Society for Propagating Christian
Knowledge, the late erection of the British and Foreign Bible Society,
and the publication by them of an edition of this Version of the Sacred
Scriptures, constitute an era in the history of this country, big, we trust,
with the most important and beneficial events. To produce these, how-
ever, ability to read the Gaelic Scriptures must be diffused as extensively
as copies of them"
It is worth mentioning here that the new Society professed to be
strictly unsectarian. But human nature seems to be incurably tinctured
with the sectarian spirit. And so it comes that an MS. note, facing the
title-page on the volume before us, must needs classify the membership
of the Society as follows: Established 12, Baptist 4, Secession 5, Judges
2, Lady G(lenorchy ?) 1, Epis(copal) 1. Rule VII. is expressed in these
words : " that the teachers to be employed by this Society shall neither
be preachers nor public exhorters, stated or occasional, of any denomina-
tion whatever." The school books to be used were a spelling book in
Gaelic, prepared by the Society, and the Gaelic Psalm Book to be suc-
ceeded by the Sacred Scriptures of the Old and New Testament, in that
language. The schools were to be " ambulatory," i.e., the school stations
were to be changed at periods varying from six to eighteen months.
The first report of the Gaelic Society contains an appendix of 30
pages, about 10 pages of which are occupied with an account of the Welsh
Circulating Schools, on which the new Gaelic schools were to be modelled.
The remaining pages are occupied with twenty-two parochial returns,
descriptive of the educational state of the Highlands, contributed
by the parish ministers, in answer to the Society's first circular letter,
issued on 27th December 1810. Let us endeavour to focus a bird's-eye
view of these returns. From Glenshiel the Rev. John Macrae reports
the population as 750 ; of these 209 could read English, and most of the
209 could also read Gaelic ; none could read Gaelic alone, From Harris
the Rev. Alexander Macleod reports the population as 3000 ; of these
204 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
200 only could read English and Gaelic. " As to the query ' what num-
bers understand and are capable of reading Gaelic alone V you will be
surprised to hear that of this class I cannot find any in Harris, and few
are to be met with in Scotland who read Gaelic alone." From Kintail
the Rev. Roderick Morison reports the population as 1000 ; of these 192
could read English, and of the 192 as many as 133 could also read Gaelic;
" two men who could not read English were able to read the Gaelic Psalm
Book, not by power of letters, but by observation of them and dint of
memory." From Bracadale the Rev. Roderick Macleod reports that 373
could read English ; that only one could read Gaelic alone ; " and that
otic acquired it while in a regiment of fencibles in Ireland, which shows
that people could in time be brought to read Gaelic if they had proper
teachers." From Stornoway the Rev. Colin Mackenzie reports the popu-
lation of (1) the town district as 2000, of whom 600 could read English,
and " scarce twenty " Gaelic : (2) Uii (Uig 1) population 800, ticenty only
of whom could read English and six Gaelic ; (3) Gress, population 700,
of whom but six could read English, and two Gaelic. From Kilmuir,
Skya, the Rev. Donald Ross reports 2728 souls who could read neither
English nor Gaelic, 162 who read English and Gaelic, and 2 who read
Gaelic alone. From Torosay, Mull, the Rev. Alexander Fraser reports a
population of 2000 ; of these 386 could read English, and 298 English
and Gaelic. From the lowland parish of Fearn, near Tain, the Rev.
Hugh Ross reports that seven-eighths of a population of 1500 could
read neither English nor Gaelic ; of the remaining eighth who read
English only 20 could read Gaelic. From Applecross the Rev. John
Maequeen reports that from a congregation of 2000 assembled on a com-
munion occasion not more than 60 attended the English service. It is
interesting to note that, contrary to the experience of others, he knew
" several instances of persons without the least knowledge of English
reading who learned to read Gaelic with facility and fluency." From
Lochcarron the Rev. Lachlan Mackenzie reports that 232 read English,
many of whom also read Gaelic ; 2 only read Gaelic alone ; and 645
read neither English nor Gaelic. From Gairloch the Rev. James Russel
reports 324 who read English, 72 who read Gaelic alone, and 2549
who read neither. From Contin the Rev. James Dallas reports 1200 as
being unable to read Gaelic or English ; in the low parts of the parish 1
in 6 could read English ; in the heights 1 in 11. "All the natives under-
stand Gaelic, but I know not twelve persons among them who can read
Gaelic alone and are not able to read English."
Thus briefly have we summarised the ample details which many cor-
respondents, some of them at great length, had communicated to the new
Society from all parts of the Highlands. And be it remembered that what
we have here is the testimony of eye witnesses. Each minister describes
the state of his own parish. One calculates, indeed, in round numbers,
and another figures out his return with arithmetical exactitude to the last
unit. But all speak of the things of which for years they had the fullest
personal knowledge. What a picture 1 And that the picture was not an
overdrawn appeal wl misericordiam, but a faithful transcript of the sad
and pitiful reality, there is unhappily no lack of evidence. Then in the
next report of the Gaelic School Society (1812) we find the following
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
extracts from letters written by gentlemen who enjoyed opportunities
specially favourable foi acquainting tlieinselves with the state of the
Highlands. The Eev. William Eraser of Kilchrenan writes: "The
picture of Highland parishes so faithfully drawn by your correspondents
in the north, I have had occasion often to contemplate with emotions of
pity and regret." Mr Eraser thus testified from personal knowledge,
acquired by him "as teacher, missionary, and clergyman," in the wide
district extending from " Applecross, in Koss shire, to Kintyre, in Argyle-
shire, including some of the largest, and several of the small adjacent,
islands." And the Rev. Daniel Dewar, then labouring at Strontian,
afterwards so well known as the successor of Dr Chalmers in Glasgow,
and Principal of the Marischal College of Aberdeen, is quoted in the re-
port to this effect: "I have made, in company with some English friends,
an extensive tour through most of the Hebrides, as well as through
Arisaig, Moidart, North and South Morar, Knoydart, &c., and I am now
most deeply convinced of the utility and the necessity of your Society.
I have made it my business to make enquiries as to the abilities of the
people to read, and have seldom met with any one of the common people
in the districts I have mentioned capable of reading either English or
Gaelic. There is no school in Cana, containing \ipwards of four hundred
souls no school in the extensive district of Moidart. The moral and
religious state of this people must be truly pitiable, since between the
parish church of Ardnamurchan and that of Glenelg there is but one
missionary minister. Pray unfold the map and look at the immense
regions which intervene. I mention this with no other view than to
excite the pity of your Society towards the moral condition of a people
who are labouring under great disadvantages." The learned and vener-
able Principal, then but a stripling with the world before him, closes his
letter with a sentence which may appropriately close this long digression:
" It is in vain that the benevolence of Christians gives them the Bible,
in their own language, unless you extend to them the power of reading
it,"
The benevolence of the Society for Propagating Christian Knowledge
gave the Highlander, in 1807, a complete and cheap edition of the Gaelic
Bible. Scarce was the ink dry on this first really available impression of
the sacred volume, when the British and Foreign Bible Society took it
up ; doubling, and ere long quadrupling the gift. In like manner the
Gaelic School Societies of Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Inverness, though
they never attained to any remarkable vigour, held out a helping hand
in the mother society's parallel and preparatory work of education, till in
1825 the grand scheme of the General Assembly's Education Committee
crowned the edifice. Thousands of Highlanders, at home and all over the
world, are to-day the living witnesses of the solid strength and graceful
proportions of that noble edifice, with its 327 schools supported by 5881 of
annual voluntary contributions, which the Church, in 1872, handed over
gracefully and trustfully to the care of the Highland people, acting through
their statutory school-boards. Let us trust that the day is now at hand
when all our people will read the Bible with equal ease in Gaelic and
English. And let us pray that then they may all so know and love it as
to become themselves living epistles of its truth and power.
DONALD MASSON,
266 THE CELTIC MAGAZLXK.
DONALD MACDOUGALL.
WE Lave much pleasure in placing on permanent record an account of the well-deserved
honours conferred upon our excellent and remarkable townsman, Mr Donald Macdougall,
of "Royal Tartan Warehouse" celebrity, by bis fellow citizens, on the evening of the
18th March, in the Hall of the Workmen's Club. He was presented with a marble bust
of himself, subscribed for by friends at home and abroad, and prepared by a rising
townsman, Mr Andrew Davidson, sculptor, to whom the work does the highest credit.
The bust is an excellent and striking likeness, executed in the finest Carrara marble, and
set on a small base of polished white marble. There is also a yellow pedestal 2 feet 9
inches high, of Scagliola marble, highly polished and moulded. On the face of this
pedestal is a brass plate, beautifully engraved by Messrs Ferguson Brothers, and bearing
the following inscription :
This bust of Donald Macdougall, Esq., Inverness, originator of the Tweed trade in
Scotland, was freely subscribed for by all sections of the community, and presented to
the Working Men's Club, of which he was the founder, at a public gathering of his
fellow citizens on the 18th March 1879. It is designed to commemorate the good deeds
of one whose active benevolence daring a long life, conferred lasting benefits on his
native town, and whose energy, sacacity, and commercial ability, elevated an insignificant
branch of trade into a national industry that continues to command a first place in the
markets of the world.
The chair was occupied by the Primus, with Mr Macdougall on his right hand, and
supported by the Provost, Bailie Black, Bailie Macdonald, the Rev. Dr Black, Mr
Dallas, Town-Clerk ; Councillor Burns, Mr Ross, architect ; Mr William Ferguson,
Chairman of the Club ; and Mr George Wood of the Courier, Tea and fruit having
been served, the choir of the Cathedral sang " God Save the Queen," Mr Money playing
the piano accompaniments.
The PRIMUS announced that letters of apology had been received from Mr Mackintosh
of Raigmore ; Dr Brougham, Culduthel ; Mr James Brougham, Mr Robert Carruthers,
Mr Galloway, and Colonel Cameron, Clifton Lodge, who all expressed their deep regret
that they were unable to be present.
The CHAIRMAN said Having done homage to our most gracious Majesty the Queen,
the next work in which we are to be engaged is to offer a mark, a d .'e;> nj.trk, of respect
and veneration to him who is the immediate cause of our gathering this i-veuing. (Ap-
plause.) We are assembled to offer a token of real respect and regard to one and I
speak with a deep affection for him, and I mean each word that I say to offer, I repeat,
a token of respect and regard, not only to an honourable and a good man, but to a man who
has spent mauy years of his life in endeavouring to promote the best and the highest
interests among those whom he lived. (Applause.) While speaking iu the presence of
Mr Macdougall, I feel that it is necessary to limit the expressions that I could otherwise
make use of, lest they should be painful and offensive to him ; and yet I must speak of
something connected with him, in order to remind you of his real merits. Mr Mac-
dougall has again and again told me of his earliest life with gratitude for the gifts and
blessings which he has received. He has told me that, when a boy, he ran about the
streets of Inverness without shoes or stockings. Now, when we think of that, and then
look upon this hall, we have some evidence in our mine's, not only of the manner in
which God has blessed and prospered the career of this man, but of the use which he bfcs
made of the blessings which Got! has bestowed upon him. (Loud applause.) There are
many incidents iu Mr ALicduu^.tll's life to which reference might be made, but it would
occupy too much of your time were I to mention any but the more salient points,
aiid those connected witn tbe special object of our meeting. There is one incident in Mr
Macdougall's life wliich, in the present day, ought to he prominently brought before the
public mind. But that very incident is not the first incident of the kind which has oc-
curred in Mr Macdougall's family. Mr Macdougall's father, like himself, began business
a poor man. Like many a ^ood man before him, after a time he failed in business, and
was obliged to enter into an arrangement with his ci editors. He paid them a composi-
tion. He resumed business and went on and prospered though not to the extent in
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 267
which his son has prospered and the result of his prosperity was this, that, though com-
paratively a poor man, he cailed together his former creditors, and paid them with in-
terest the remainder of his obligations to them. (Loud appl.ime ) And, if I am not
misinformed, that good man in his dying hour, left a legacy to his son who is now our
guest that legacy bein? a desire, that if his son should be ever placed in similar circum-
stances, he was to" do the same thing. What use the son has made of that legacy you all
know. (Applause.) He turned that legacy to good account; for he, too, like many
another good man, failed in business, and was compelled to meet his creditors with a
composition of 15s in the 1. He subsequently prospered. God blessed him, and as
soon as it was in his power he called together his creditors, and paid to them the re-
mainder of his obligations with interest. Many a man might have expressed readiness
and willingness to act in this way towards his creditors many a man might have said
that his creditors might come forward and avail themselves of his readiness to pay them.
But Mr Macdougall sought out his creditors. (Applause.) He took the greatest pains
and trouble to discover them he sought them out even in Australia and paid them
every one. (Loud applause.) At the time Mr Macdougall did this, perhaps there was
greater commercial honesty in the world than now. But his action was felt to be de-
serving of note by hw commercial brethren, aad, in consequence, his commercial friends
in Glasgow invited him to a special feast. They presented him also with a testimonial,
indicating their high sense of his honourable conduct, and I will i ead to you the inscription
which was put upon the service of plate which was at that time given him : " Presented,
with a tea service and ether articles of silver plate, to Donald Macdougall, Esq., by a
numerous circle of commercial friends, as a testimonial of their respect, and more par-
ticularly as an expression of their sense of his honourable conduct in paying the balance
of his obligations of the year 1837, from which he had been fully discharged. 30th
Apiil 1857." (Loud applause.) In the present day such an example as that deserves to
be held up before the public (applause) and I trust that there may be many ready and
disposed to follow it. (Applause.) Time passed on, and Mr Macdougall retired from
the business in which he had been so long engaged a business which really has brought
honour and reputation on the capital of the Highlands. (Applause.) I believe that in
the first great Exhibition of 1851, Mr Macdougall, though with very great difficulty,
was enabled to bring specimens of our Sootck tartans before the public notice, by his
obtaining permission to exhibit his Scotch tartans ; and from that time forward the
Royal Tartan Warehouse in Inverness has been a place known, I may say, throughout
the world known not only in England, but in the Colonies and in India. And what-
ever advantage and credit we derive from that, it is entirely owing to the exertions of Mr
Macdoufcall. (Applause.) Well, as I said, time passed on, and Mr Macdougall retired
from business, but not from work. From that time forth and it has been my happy lot
to have observed his carter for more than five-and-twenty years he appeared to me to
devote himself, with singleness of purpose and with a noble heart, to good works. (Re-
newed applause.) Whenever there was any good work to be done in Inverness I have
ever found Mr Macdougall one of the first and heaitiest to take it up. Amongst other
things I would point to the hall in which we are now assembled. From the fact that Mr
Macdougall had climbed to the top of the tree through all its vaiious branches, he had
known the many trials and difficulties of working men. He had known how of ten the work-
man's heart yearned, after his hard day's toil, for some quiet rest for something of an
evening such as might divert his thought from the day's toil, and help to improve the
mind, which could not be improved during the drudgery of his daily woik. Mr Mac-
dougall knew and felt that there was a want in this respect in Inverness, and he resolved
to supply that want. (Applause.) He determined to establish this Woiking Men's
Club. (Renewed applause.) And he succeeded in establishing it by the great labour
which he bestowed upon obtaining subscriptions from Scotchmen and Englishmen all
over the world. I don't like to s*y how many letters Mr Macdougall once told me he
had written in his endeavours to establish this Club; and he began almost before the
penny post was introduced. But not only by these great exertions, but by his own un-
bounded liberality (applause) he was enabled to raise this building in which we are
now met. (Renewed applause.) And many and many are the hard wrought workmen
whe have found, I am sure, in this Workmen's Ciub many a moment's happy rest and
quietness, and many an evening of personal and individual improvement from the books
which are here provided, and which books came here from or through Mr Macdougall.
He sought books everywhere. He is a loyal subject, but he did not mind going to the
Queen and troubling her Majesty with the wants of those whom he was desirous to benefit.
(Laughter and applause.) And he succeeded (applause) - as he has succeeded in every
thing he has put his hand to. (Renewed applause.) feuch work, such active work, did
really demand recognition, and, accordingly, some time ago friends of Mr Macdougall,
who were attached and devoted to him, and who recognised his value, determined to
raise the means to offer him some substantial token of their regard and affection ; and,
with a view of making that an enduring token, they resolved that part of the means
raised should be laid out in a marble bust of the founder of this Workmen's Club. (Ap-
268 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
plause.) That bust has been executed, I am thankful to say, by an eminent sculptor, a
sculptor in Inverness (applause) -one who has given many instances of his taste, power,
and genius. (Renewed applause.) You will have an opportunity now of seeing a speci-
men of his sail in his admirable representation of our well-known guest a representa-
tion which in every respect will be a peimari'iit likeness of him, wanting only that by
which we all know him namely, his hat. (Laughter and applause.) However, we are
always glad to see him with or without the hat. (Renewed laughter.) lam sure, ladies
and gentlemen, I am only expressing your feelings, as well as my own, when I s;iy that
we all most heartily pray that his green old age may be a happy one, and that when we
shall begin to see that well-known face no more in the streets of Inverness, we may feel
that he has obtained a higher rest and reward than that which he sought in tkis world.
I now ask the Provost to unveil the bust. And [turning to Mr Macdougall] on behalf of
the public of Inverness, and of a much larger public than that of Inverness, I have the
honour to present you, Mr Macdougall, with this marble bust as a token of the esteem,
regard, and affection which is universally entertained towards you. (Loud applause.)
The PROVOST, amid cheers, unveiled the bust, and read the inscription on the pede-
stal.
Mr MACDOUGALL, rising to reply, was received with loud applause. He said Your
lordship's kind and flattering remarks have so overpowered me, that I fear I shall
scarcely find words adequate to the expression of what aiy full Highland heart at present
feels. I ought to give bumble and devout thanks to the Source whence all blessings
flow, that He has so preserved my health and nerved my arm as to enable me, though
with a severe struggle, to do a simple act of duty, in presenting this large and well-
furnished Club to the working classes of my native town. (Applause.) I feel much in-
debted to your lordship, the metnbsrs of committee, and the public generally, far and
near, for this additional honour conferred on me in the shape of this life like bust,
which I am happy to say has been executed by a townsman, Mr Davidson. (Applause.)
After my long and busy career, the bust is an honourable acknowledgment of my endea-
vour to provide for the requirements and recreations of the working classes after the
day's toil is over. This Workmen's Club is one of the most successful of the kind in
Scotland, possessing a large library of 4000 books, a spacious reading and lecture room,
a room for innocent games, and a playground behind, also the principal daily and
weekly newspapers and magazines, and some foreign newspapers. (Applause.) There
are about 400 member?, and a vast number of penny daily visitors. (Applause.)
I am sure that each member of the Town Council, and of the Club Committee,
will exert himself to increase its usefulness. After the toil and business of the
day are over, what a pleasant thing it is to have such a cheerful place to spend an
evening in. The workman feels more keenly than any other man the need of social
enjoyment after bis day of labour is at an end. (Hear, hear, and applause.) This
Club has had the high honour of receiving a spiendid gift of books of the best kind from
her Majesty, our royal mistress. (Applause.) The building being the property of the
town, 1 would earnestly beseech the members of the Town Council to assist Messrs
Ferguson, jewellers, who, for some time past, have taken an active part in the manage-
ment of the Club. When I was in business, my motto was, There is nothing reasonable
and honest impossible, if you bend all the powers of your mind and body to it (applause)
energy, invincible determination and purpose, once fixed, then death or victory !
(Renewed applause.) It is pleasant to a man at the close of his life to receive a mark of
appreciation from his fellow-townsmen, and the bust, which so many friends have com-
bined to present, is most gratifying to my feelings. I receive it also as a proof that the
Workmen's Club has not been without benefit to the classes for whom it was built.
(Applause.) Many, very many, kind and heartfelt thanks to you, my Lord Bishop, for
your many kind wishes and complimentary remarks. The recollection ot this evening
will, while I live, be engraved on the tablets of my memory. (Applause.) Mr Mac-
dougall, before concluding, presented the bust to the Club through the chairman, Mr
William Ferguson. He trusted the Club would place it in some suitable position, for
nothing would please him more than the thought that, after he had gone from amongst
them, some memorial had been left to show those who came after him the kindness with
which they had regarded his efforts to do some little good in his day (applause) and
how those efforts were more than repaid by the proceedings of this night the proudest
night of his life. (Renewed applause.) Referring to the assistance which the Club,
through him, had received from the Queen, Mr Macdougall said the Queen was one of
his very best customers for many vears (laughter and applause) and a more delightful
lady he never had the honour of serving. (Laughter and applause.) He took the liberty
some thirteen years ago of writing to the Dowager Duchess of Athole, asking her
Grace to bring the Club under the notice of her Majesty, and the result, as had been
said, was an excellent gift of books. (Applause.) He had also received much valuable
assistance from the Primus and his friends. He mentioned that one day walking down
a street in London he met a gentleman whom he knew. He stopped to speak with him,
and the gentleman said, " Ah, books." (Laughter.) Nothing more passed, but he (Mr
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 269
Macdougall) followed his acquaintance to his residence in Albeinaile Street, and they
went up the stairs, and the gentleman opened his library door and said, "Take these
four shelves." (Laughter and applause.) The Primus was then in London; Mr Mac-
dougall mentioned the circumstance to him, and he said that the gentleman was to dine
with him, and that Mr Macdougall could meet him next day at the same place and time.
This he did followed the gentleman again and on reaching the top of the stair, the
library was once more opened, and he was told to take " these three shelves." (Laugh-
ter and applause.) These incidents he mentioned as an encouragement to be always on
the alert and attentive. (Applause.)
Mr WILLIAM FERGUSON, Chairman of the Club, formally accepted the bust, and
thanked Mr Macdougall. The bust, he said, would henceforth become one of the
principal attractions in the hall. As a work of art, it could not be surpassed, and while,
to the present and future members of the Working Men's Club, it would always be a
speaking likeness, reminding them ot the donor, to whose benevolence and energy the
Club owed its existence, it would, at the same time be appreciated as the work of a
sculptor, Mr Andrew Davidson, one of ourselves, of whom we are truly proud (applause)
and whose talents were not only the admiration of his fellow-townsmeo, but un-
doubtedly placed him in the highest rank_ of his profession. Mr Ferguson again ex-
pressed gratitude for all that Mr Macdougall had done for them, as the original founder
of the Club. (Applause.)
The rest of the evening was occupied with a musical entertainment, in which Mrs
Kenrick, Airs Wilson, Miss Lizzie Macbean, Canon Medley, Mr Money, and Mr Bulmer
took ),art. All the songs were loudly applauded and some of them encored. The meet-
ing was wound up with votes of thanks to the chairman and the choir, and with three
cheers for the sculptor of the bust, Mr Davidson.
MY II I E L A N' H A M E.
I wandered in a foreign clime, where wild flowers blossomed fair,
An' socht for Scotia's swees blue bell, but fand nae blue bell there ;
Syne, as a tear frae love's pure fount warm trembled in mine e'e,
My spirit to my hielan' hame was wafted owre the sea.
My hielan' hame, my hielan' hame !
Oh ! hoo it fans affection's flame !
On earth there is nae spot the same
To me, as my dear hielan' hame !
Where mountains towered, and foaming floods their channels deep had worn,
Wi' throbbing breast I lang surveyed the cot where I was born,
My kindly mither blest my view, wha nursed me on her knee,
An' happy made oor hielan' hame far, far across the sea.
My hielan' hame, my hielan' hame ! &c.
Companions, loved langsyne, I saw around the hearth convene,
The silver tresses o' my sire threw rev'rence owre the scene;
Truth glowed in ilka honest face, like sunlicht on the lea,
Thus rilled wi' joy my hielan' hame far, far across the sea.
My hielan' hame, my hielan' hame ! &c.
Upon that cherished spot, again, to dwell my bosom burned ;
Drawn by love chains, time couldna break, I to my freends returned,
Their gladsome souls the darkest day adorn wi' purest glee ;
My hielau' hame I'll leave nae mair to cross the stormy sea.
My hielan' hame, my hielan' hame
Oh ! hoo it funs affection's flune !
On earth there is nae spot the same
To me, as my dear hielan' hame !
EDINBURGH. ALEXANDER LOGAN.
270 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
GENEALOGICAL NOTES AND QUERIES.
o
ANSWERS.
THE RF,V. WM. FRASER OF KILMORA.CK.
IN answer to "A.D.C.," Bishop Hay, maternal uncle to Agnes Lovat,
carried away by Kenneth Mackenzie (a Bhlair), VII. Baron of Kintnil, when
he sent away his first wife, Margaret, daughter of John, Earl of Ross,
advised Kenneth 'and the lady's friends that a commission should be sent to
the Pope in 1491, to procure the legitimation of their union. This was
agreed to, and the foil wing account of the Commissioners sent is taken
from the "Ancient" Allangrange MS. of the Mackenzies in my possession :
"To that effect one called Donald Dhu M'Chreggir priest of Kirkhill was
imployed, which accordingly he performed. This priest was a native in
Kintail, descended of a clan there called Clan Chreggir, who being a
hopeful boy in his younger days was educat in Mackenzie's house and
afterwards at Beullie be. the fore-mentioned Dugall Mackenzie (natural
son of Alexander "lonraie " VI. of Kintail) pryor yrof. In end (he) was
made priest of Kirkhill. His successors to this Jay are called Erasers. Of
this priest is descended Mr William and Mr Donald Eraser." The author
of the Avdintoul MS. gives a slightly different version, and says : 'To
which end they sent Mr Andrew Eraser, Priest of Kintail, a learned and
eloquent man, who took in his company Dugal Mackenzie, natural son to
Alexander Inrig, who was a scholar. The Pope entertained them kindly
and very readily granted them what they desired, and were both made
knights to the boot by Pope Clement VIII., but when my knights came
home they neglected the decree of Pope Innocent III. against the mar-
riage and consentricate of the clergy, or, otherwise, they got a dispensa-
tion from the then Pope Clement VIII. for both of them married. Sir
Dugal was made priest of Kintail and married nien (daughter) Dunchy
Chaim in Glenmorriston. Sir Andrew likewise married, whose son was
Donull Du Maelntagard (Black Donald son of the Priest) and was priest
of Kirkhill and Chapter of Ross, llitt tacks of the Vicaraye of Kil-
iiKinick to John ChisJiolm of Comar stands to this day. His son was .Mi-
William Mac Ahoulding, alias Eraser, who died minister of Kiltarlady.
His son was Mr Donald Eraser, who \\asniinistcr of Kilmorack. So that
he is the fifth minister or ecclesiastical person in a lineal and uninter-
rupted succession which falls out but seldom and than which, in my
judgment can more entitle a man to be really a gentleman, for that blood
which runs in the veins of four or five generations of men of piety and
learning and breeding cannot but have influence, and it confirms my
opinion that the piv.-ent Mr William Eraser (who is the fifth) ha-? the
virtues and commendable properties <f his predecessors all united in him."
This latter MS. was written by the Rev. John Mac.lia, minister of Dingwall,
who died in 1704. I am informed that five others of this family succeeded
the Rev. William Eraser, last named, in Kilmorack, in du
the last of whom was the Rev. Simon Eraser of Kilmorack, who.-e widow
and family now reside in ln\ . . It would be iiitcie.-fing to know
whether the present Rev. Mr Eraser, Eree Church Minister of Kirkhill,
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 271
lias any connection with the old Erasers of Kirkhill and Kiimorack;
for he is also fifth in descent of another line of Erasers as ministers of
Kirkhill. The prefix " Mr " is in. all old MS. equivalent to the modern
"Rev." A.M.
BOSSES OF INVERCHARRON.
THE following sketch of the family of Ross of Invercharron, in reply to
Query (11) in last Celtic, is gathered from various Sasines, copied from
the Registers of Sasines for Inverness, between the years 1G06 and
1769 :
The first mentioned is Alexander Ross of Invercharron, Bailie for the
Lady Annabella Murray, daughter of John, Earl of Tullibardine. His
wife's name is given as Isobell Ro*s. (Sas., Dec. 16, 1606, vol. i., fol.
139.) He appears to have h.ul four sons; William, his heir; Thomas
(Sas. 1606), and two sons, David and Nicholas, who are mentioned by
Sir Robert Gordon as proceeding to the wars in Germany in 1627.
(Hist. Earldom of Sutherland, pp. 402, 450.)
The eldest son, William Ross of Invercharron, married a daughter of
Alexander Mackenzie, first of Davojhmaluak (who died 1531), by Mar-
garet, daughter of Sir William Munro of Eowlis.
The next is Walter Ross of Invereharron, eldest son of the last,
who appears to have sold ihe property in 1625 to " AndreAv Ross, burgess
of Tayne," but to have recovered it the same year on payment of 5000
mei-ks. (Sas. 1625, May 31, vol. iii., fuls. 103, 103, mentioning " Lsobeli
Ross, relict of Alexander Ross of Invercharron, ' mei avi.' ") He married
Isobel, daughter of Andrew Munro of Milton (mentioned in the Sasines
quoted) ; but in a Sasine of 1663 (vol. ii., fol. 57), wherein his father,
William, now a very old man apparently, alienates the lands to his son
Walter, a second wife, evidently, is mentioned, Margaret Gray, relict of
George Murray of Pulrossie.
There is also a sister mentioned, Isobel, married to Andrew Ross of
Sandvaik. (Sas. 1660, vol. vii., fol. 20.)
The children of Walter Ross seem to have been William, his heir ;
Walter ; Hugh (called Tutor of Invercharron, Sas. 1695, vol. vi., fol. 22);
Janet, married fir-st to Thomas Ross of Priesthill (Sas. 1639), and se-
condly, to Kenneth Mackenzie, first of Scatwell (Sas. 1664) ; and Chris-
tian, mariied to Hugh Macleod of Cambuscarry (Douglas Baronage, page
387).
William Ross of Invercharron married Christian Ross, but does not
seem to have left an heir, as, after the Tutory of Hugh (Sas. 1680, vol. v.,
fol. 61), the next laird mentioned is William Ross ot Invercharron, "sun
of Walter Ross of Invercharron." (Sas. 1708, vol. xiv., fol. 476.) This
William married Helen, daughter of Hugh Ross of Braelang \vell ; and,
after him. there seems an hiatus, since the next Sasine is dated 1763
(vol. xix., fol. 309), and mentions the names only of William Ross of In-
vercharron, and his wife, Anne, daughter of David Ross of Inverchastley.
The last Sasine (1769, Dec. 9, vol. xx., fol. 376) gives the name of las
eldest son only, David Ross.
The above are all the particulars I possess regarding the family in
question, and among them are contained answers to some of the queries
requested by your correspondent " Quill." J. D. M'K.
272 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
THE CIIIE/ OF THE MATIIESOXS.
I EXPECTED that you would yourself have answered in the April number
the query which Appeared in the March issue of your Magazine, as, judg-
ing by your communications to recent numbers of the Courier, you ap-
pear to be well posted up in the History and Genealogy of this ancient
family. You there indicated an opinion that the Chiefship was to be
found among the representatives of the Bennetsfield Mathesons, and you
are probably correct. In any case, it is gratifying to learn, as the result
of the publication of your letters, that male representatives of that branch
still exist in a good position ; the Chief assuming your deductions
to be well-founded being Eric, son of the late Colonel James Brook
Young Matheson, of the H.E.I.C.S., now residing on the Continent.
Your correspondent, " Mathon," is quite correct in saying that the
present Matheson of Ardross and Lochalsh does not claim the Chiefship,
although he is undoubtedly descended from a younger son of the ancient
family of Lochalsh. The late Sir James Matheson of the Lews was not
chief of the Mathesons of Sutherland, but he belonged to the principal
family in that county, one of whom was elected Chief of the Sutherland
Mathesons in the beginning of the 17th century, on the recommendation
of Sir Eobert Gordon, author of the " History of the Earldom of Suther-
land."
You are probably acquainted with the " Imaire " MS. History of the
Mathesons, in which the author, Roderick Matheson, claims the honour
of the Chiefship for himself; and it seems clear that his claim must be
disposed of belbre even the Bennetsfield Mathesons can come in ; for he
makes himself out as descended from an elder brother of John Matheson
of Fernaig, from whom you have shown the Bennetsfields to be descended.
There is considerable difficulty in giving a satisfactory answer to such
queries as those asked by " Mathon," and from what I have seen and
heard, you are yourself, perhaps, better able to deal with them than most
people. Might I suggest that you give us a sketch of this Clan in the
Celtic Magazine. It would be a most appropriate sequel to your exhaus-
tive History of the Clan Mackenzie, with whom the Mathesons were in
the past so closely connected. " CHIAN."
[We intend, some day, to adopt the suggestion of our correspondent,
and to give a pretty full sketch of his Clan in the C.M. Wo must, how-
ever, finish the Mackenzies before we can feel in a position to inflict more
of the same kind upon the reader. Meanwhile, we shall be obliged
to " Chian " and others interested, to supply us with any informa-
tion in their possession. We have two copies of the " Imaire " MS. and
other valuable information about the Mathesons in our repositories, but
no doubt much more is procurable. We shall have no great difficulty in
disposing of the " Imaire " claim to the Chiefship when Ave take the mat-
ter up.]
CUTHBERTS OF DRAKIES.
IN reply to " F. Medenham's " query (No. 14) in your last : In the His-
tory of the Roses of Kilravock (Spalding Club), p. 68 is a mention of
1. Alexander (or James) Cuthtort of East Drakics. who urn-rifil Mar-
garet Vaus of Lochsliu, and died 1547, I find no earlier mention of lids
THE CELTIC MAGAZIKE. 273
family. The next of the name is found in one of the earliest Sasines (see
Secy. Eeg. Sas., Inverness, vol. i., fol. 61, A.D. 1606, June 2), viz.
2. To Alexander Cuthbert and Christen Dunbar, his spouse, by John
Winchester do Alterlie. over the one part of the lands of Alterlie, called
Brachinche, and mentioning Margaret Cuthbert, spouse of John Win-
chester. Alexander is called " burgess of Inverness." A sister of his,
Isobel, married John Mackenzie, first of Ord (Seaforth Charters, fol. 207,
1607-39).
3. James Cuthbert of Alterlies and Easter Drakies, son of Alexander
Cuthbert and Christen Dunbar, was Provost of Inverness in 1621, sold the
lands of Lochslin to John Mackenzie (Sas. 1625, fol. 144) ; his wife was
Marie Abercrombie, and he appears as witness in charters or in deeds from
1619 to J638. In 1634 he obtains the lands of Culloden. (Great Seal
Index, 53-153, Sas. 1657.) His children were Alexander, his heir;
Margaret, married to John Mackenzie of Davochkairne (Gairloch) ;
Christine married David Eose of Earls-miln, who died 1669 (Roses of
Kilravock, p. 530) ; and Mary married William Mackenzie, first of Bel-
maduthy (Sas. to them 1657, fol. 304).
4. Alexander Cuthbert of Easter Drakies has a Sasine, as eldest son
of the last, dated 1650, June 24 ; and his children were, his eldest son,
5. John Cuthbert of Alterlies (Sas, 1666, vol. iii., fol. 55), and Jean,
married to Lachlan Mackinnon of Strorne (Sas. 1680, fol, 70). John is
given as a witness in the Lovat Charters (395) in 1676.
In 1706, among the Lovat Papers (MSS.) appears the sale by
6. David Cuthbert of Drakies of a tenement to the Magistrates of Inver-
ness. This must be the son and successor of John Cuthbert, and in the
Douglas Baronage (p. 361-1) there is mentioned a daughter, Isobel, mar-
ried to John Macpherson of Dalraddie.
These are all the particulars I can find respecting the above family.
J. D. M'K.
a U E R I E 8.
(17) CAPTAIN HUMBERSTONE MACKENZIE. The enclosed inscription was found on a
tomb near Ahmednugger. I wish to know who the Capt. Humberstone Mackenzie men-
tioned therein was, as he is not named in Findon's " Mackenzie Genealogies." It would
seem from the iuscription that his father was Capt. Mackenzie Humberstoue, the elder
brother of the last Lord Seaforth, but both in the Celtic Magazine and in the " Macken-
zie Genealogies," that gentleman is said to have died unmarried. I have a photograph
of the tomb, with the " Caber Feidh " carved on it : " On this spot fell at the Storm-
ing of Ahmednugger, on the 8th August 1803, Captain Humberstone Mackenzie, Captain
in H.M. 78th Regiment of Ross-shire Highlanders, son of Captain Mackenzie Humber-
stone, who was killed at his gun in the Mahrattah War in 1783.
"This tomb is also consecrated to the memory ef Captain Grant, Lieutenant Ander-
son, and the non-commissioned officers and privates of the same Regiment, who fell on
that occasion."
7 St Ann's Park Terrace, Wandsworth, S.W. K. E. M'K.
The usual Gaelic Song, with Music, is unavoidably left over.
Y
274 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
DUNTULM CASTLE A TERRIBLE REVENGE.
IN tlie early history of the Highlands, the Clan Macdonald holds by far
the most prominent position, both as regards numbers and extent of
territory.
At different periods during the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries
we find them holding possession of, or exercising authority over, the
whole of the North West Islands, as well as the Sudereys the name by
which the southern part of the Western Isles was then called besides many
places on the mainland, particularly in Argyllshire, whence they got their
secondary title of Thanes of Argyle. From the Island of Lewis southward
to the Isle of Man, they ruled at one time or other. They did not own
subjection to the king of Scotland, but, as Lords of the Isles, and repre-
sentatives of the ancient Earls of Ross, actually entered into treaties and
alliances with the English and other foreign Courts on the footing of
independent princes.
It can easily be understood that, owing to their great numbers and
the scattered and detached character of their possessions, disputes and
divisions were rife amongst them, the chieftains often quarrelling and
engaging in petty wars on their own account, when not actively employed
in fighting the battles of their superior, the Lord of the Isles.
On the death of one of the chiefs, a dispute arose among his followers
as to his successor there being two claimants to the honour one the
son of the late chieftain, who was supported by the majority of the clans-
men on that ground, but as his character and antecedents had made him
very unpopular, being of an avaricious, cruel, and treacherous disposition,
a good many of the olan espoused the claims of his cousin, a brave, out-
spoken, gallant young man, who had already proved himself a good
soldier and a wise politician.
Finding themselves in a minority, the cousin and his adherents retired
to Uist, whoso inhabitants were favourable to him, for the purpose of
concerting with each other, and organising a scheme for obtaining pos-
session of the Island of Skye and its Castle of Duntulm.
There Was enmity, deep and deadly, between the two cousins, but
their hatred had a longer and deeper root than the contest for supremacy
now raging between them they were rivals in love as well as in power.
The hoary Castle of Duntulm held a lovely prize, which both the
young men coveted to call his own. Margaret was an orphan, and a
ward of the late Chief. Beautiful, amiable, and accomplished, in addition
to being an heiress, she was the admiration of all the eligible young
gentlemen for miles round ; and often had her hand been sought by the
neighbouring chiefs, but by the terms of her father's will she was to re-
main a ward at Duntulm until she became of age, when two courses were
open to her choice either to marry the young Lord of the Isles, or to
take the veil Now, as the fair Margaret was a lively, merry girl, fond
f gaiety and society, the thought of being immured in a convent was
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 275
most distasteful to her ; at the same time she had conceived a great dislike
to her destined husband.
Cupid, that blind and fickle god, had indeed shot one of his random
arrows, which had deeply pierced fair Margaret's breast ; but it was the
cousin instead of the chief to whom her heart owned allegiance.
The knowledge of being beloved by the object ef his adoration spurred
this youth on in the slippery paths of ambition, for, as the fond pair of
lovers would argue, if he could attain to the chiefship, then the letter of
her father's will would be kept, though perhaps not the spirit.
It was no easy task for her admirer to leave his betrothed behind him
when he went to Uist, but there was no help for it. After a few weeks
had passed he determined to risk paying a stolen visit to his beloved
Margaret. He chose a favourable night, and, with only one attendant,
set sail for Skye. On arriving, he left the boat in charge of his com-
panion and carefully made his way to the Castle. Stealthily he moved
forward ; warily he picked his footsteps, keeping well in the shadow of
the Castle walls, for well he knew his life was not worth a moment's
purchase were he discovered by its lord ; yet he dared risk all for one
look, one word, of his dearest Margaret. His well-known signal was
heard with delight ; and with the quickness of a woman's wit a plan was
formed to enable her to meet her lover, whom she lovingly eluded for
running such a danger for her sake.
After the first few joyful moments at thus meeting once more was
over, her lover began to speak seriously of their future movements, and
confided to her a scheme he had been concocting to surprise the Castle
and make himself master of the Island. It was arranged that Margaret
should go to visit the Convent at , the lady superior of which was a
relative of her own, and thus be out of danger during the intended attack
on the Castle. " My plan is," continued he, speaking with earnestness
and determination, " My plan is to cross the sea with all my men at
night, land quietly, and immediately begin to build up with stones every
means of exit from the Castle, and then dig under the foundation until it
is so undermined that it will fak by itself, burying beneath its crumbling
walls our enemy and his principal followers. This will strike such a
panic into the rest of the clan that I have no doubt we shall easily sub-
due them. But now, dearest, I must tear myself away, or I shall be dis-
covered ; haste back to thy chamber, I will wait till I see the light at your
window I shall then know you are safe."
With loving words and lingering caresses, which seemed to say
Parting is such sweet sorrow
That I could say good night till it be morrow,
the lovers at length separated, full of hopes of a speedy and happy re-
union, which, alas ! was never to be realized. So absorbed were they in
their conversation that neither of them observed the crouching figure of
one of the chief's retainers dodging their footsteps, and listening with
bated breath to all that was spoken at their secret tryst. ,
Nor did anything occur at the Castle to excite Margaret's suspicions
of a discovery. She was allowed to pay her proposed visit to the con-
276 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
vent unopposed, where she waited with ill-concealed impatience the
looked-for news of the attack on the Castle.
The night fixed upon arrived a stormy, gusty night, the thick drift-
ing clouds obscuring the light of the moon, the dark lowering sky being
fitfully illumined by livid streaks of lightning, Avhile the sound of the
distant thunder re-echoed from the weather-beaten rocks.
Her lover and his men were embarking in spite of the threatening
state of the weather, for, he argued, the more tempestuous the night, the
better chance he would have of taking the castle by surprise, so he and
his willing comrades battled with the wind and waves, and at length
reached the rocky coast of Skye. As their boats grated on the shingly
beach, each man sprang out quietly, and without a word of command be-
ing given, he took his place in the ranks ; freed his right arm from the
folds of his plaid, drew his claymore, and stood waiting the signal to ad-
vance.
" ISTow, my friends, forward," said their leader, as the last man took
his place, "follow me."
They advanced swiftly and noiselessly for about five hur.dred yards,
when the front rank paused in dismayed astonishment, for a flash of
lightning had revealed a momentary glimpse of what appeared a long dark
wall between them and the castle. " What is this, a dyke !" exclaimed
the leader in accents of surprise, " why, there was never a dyke here."
Again the electric fluid illumined the landscape with a vivid glare ; again
the invaders saw the dyke, but they saw it mowng and advancing towards
them ; then the truth burst like a thunderbolt upon the reckless youth
and his party. " 'Tis the Macdonalds the Macdonalds are upon us !"
were the cries from the bewildered men ; but above all rang out the clear
loud voice of their commander. " Steady, forward, did we not come to
meet the Macdonalds ; why do you hesitate then, forward, my friends ?"
^Recovering from their temporary panic, the courageous clansmen rushed
forward to meet the foe, and also, alas ! to meet their fate ; for the Mac-
donalds came in overwhelming numbers, and after a short but determined
fight, the would-be chief found himself a prisoner, with only three alive
out of his brave band, who were prisoners along with him.
The grey light of early dawn was struggling with the darkness of
departing night as he and his companions in misery were marched under
the frowning portals of gloomy Duntulm ; and before the first rosy gleams
of the rising sun had appeared, ths bodies of his three friends were hang-
ing on the traitors' gibbet in front of the castle, while he was ushered
into the presence of his enraged cousin, who received him with mock
courtesy, thanked him. with a sneer for the honour he had paid him by
coming to visit the castle with such a large retinue ; and with sham apo-
logies for such poor accommodation, conducted him to tho top of the high-
est turret of the building, and, showing him into an apartment, said,
pointing to the table on which was a piece of salt beef, a loaf of bread,
and a large jug, " There is your dinner, which I trust you will enjoy, and
I will now leave you to take a long repose after your late exertions."
The youth bore all these gibes and sneers in silence, and, as the door
closed behind his vindictive kinsman, he threw himself on the floor and gave
way to the gloomy forebodings induced by his melancholy situation,
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 277
After a while, he began to speculate on what his fate was to be, and why
his life had been spared. Then, in spite of his despondency, he began to
feel hungry, and going to the table made a hearty meal. " Well," he
soliloquized, " they don't mean to starve me at ariyrate." The beef being
very salt, he soon became thirsty, and he reached out his hand and took
hold of the big stone jug. What means that sudden start 1 why does he
gaze upon the jug with such despairing looks? why doe? he groan so
heavily 1 the jug is empty ! not a drop of water to quench his raging
thirst ! This, then, is the cruel fate reserved for him. Overpowered with
the dreadful discovery, he sits stunned and motionless, but, hark ! some
one is approaching ; he hears voices, perhaps, after all, it was an oversight.
The hope, faint as it is, inspires him with fresh vigour, and springing up,
he calls loudly to those he hears outside the door. No response is
given to his repeated entreaties for a drink of water ; no response, yet he
plainly hears mens' voices speaking to each other, and a strange inexplicable
noise that he cannot at first comprehend, but as it goes on, he understands
it too well. 'Tis the noise of masons building up the door oi his prison,
evun as he had contemplated building up the doors of the castle, had he
been the victor instead of the vanquished.
Now, indeed, he feels there is no hope for him that he is doomed to
die one of the most painful and agonising deaths that his enemy's re-
lentless cruelty could suggest death from thirst made more intense by
the salt beef which the cravings of hunger compelled him to devour.
We draw a veil over his sufferings. No pen, however graphic, could
describe his lingering agonies. Many years after, when the turret was
again opened, there was found a skeleton grasping in its fleshless hands,
part of a stone water jug, the other part of which had been ground to
powder between the teeth of the poor thirst-maddened victim of Duntulm.
Margaret waited at the convent for the news that came all too quickly.
She heard of her lover's defeat, and that he was a prisoner of the cruel
Lord of Dultulm it was enough. She sought refuge in the cloister,
but her loving heart soon broke under its weight of sorrow ; and, in spite
of the care and attention of the kind nuns, their tender sister pined away,
and in a few short months Margaret was laid to rest in the peaceful
cemetery of the convent.
M. A. ROSE.
DUNVEGAN CASTLE.
TO THE EDITOR OP THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
Sm, Be good enough to allow me to give a short explanation regard-
ing the Gaelic poem, under the above heading, in your last issue. The
278 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
poem was originally composed by my late father, Donald Macleod, the
Skye bard, and has no reference whatever to Duuvegan Castle.
It was published by him in his collection of 1811, and is to be found
on page 173 of that book, under the title of " RANN MOLAIDH DO THIGH
UK." There is also an engraving of the cottage on which it was com-
posed. The circumstances of the case are these : Their lived in Stein,
on the west coast of Skye, a prosperous country merchant, named Rode-
rick M'Xeill, who was inclined to be a little conceited and vain. My fa-
ther was quite a stripling at the time, and was looked upon as one able
to " make a rhyme and sing a sang " on any worthy occasion. He hap-
pened to go to Stein when Mr M'lfefll'a new house was in course of erec-
tion. The merchant met him, and promised a handsome present
if he would compose a complimentary duan on his new house ; but,
behold, when the duan came to light, instead of my father being presented
with a gift, Mr M'Xeill swore vengeance against him and against his
poetry, for having ridiculed him and his new cottage, in such strong and
extravagant language. I don't think, however, your readers will be dis-
appointed at the result of your investigation about the origin of this poem,
as it served to procure such an interesting note from the pen of one of the
best Celts of the day, the Rev, Alexander Macgregor, M. A., of your good
town of Inverness. The true and graphic account given by him of Dun-
vegan Castle and its romantic surroundings, are valuable items of
information regarding the strange traditions of the past,
As your reverend contributor, Mr M'Calman, admits, there are several
omissions and errors in the copy of the poem he so kindly sent you, but
not sufficiently important to demand particular notice. But if Mr
M'Calman or any of your friends wish for a correct copy of it, I shall be
very glad to supply them. I am, &c.,
EDINBURGH. N. MACLEOD.
literature.
THE EP1STLK OF PAUL TO THE CHURCHES OF GALATIA, with Introduc-
tion and Notes, by the Rev. JAMES MACGREGOR, D.D., Professor of Systematic
Theology in the New College, Edinburgh. Edinburgh : T. & T. Clark.
THIS is one of a series of Handbooks for Bible Classes, edited by the Rev.
Marcus Dods, D.D., and the Rev. Alexander "Whyte, M.A., designed to
assist "those whose business it is to teach Bible Classes, whether in the
Church, the School, or the Family," and, if the one before us is a fair
specimen of the rest of the series, they will be found eminently suited for
this purpose. It is, howi-vrr, quite outsi.lt' the limits which we have laid
d<>\vii lor ourselves to criticise the general character of such works as these.
We leave Theology and cognate questions to those whose position and
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 279
training qualify them in a proper nunner to deal with such important
themes. The Celtic Magazine, is not inlendrd, nor is it suitable for such
a purpose. Theology is not our forte. We are, however, particularly
struck with Professor Macgregor's learned and most interesting " Intro-
duction " to his Epistle to the Galatians, and being, as it is, purely criti-
cal and historical, it is quite within the legitimate scope of our labours.
The author holds that Galatia, or the Galatian land, is simply another
name for Gaeldachd or Gaeldom that the Galatians were purely Celtic
in blood as well as in name. They are, on this account, most interesting
to us. They. have been claimed as a Teutonic race ; but in favour of this
contention nothing can be alleged that is not obviously the fond inven-
tion of the vanity of modern Teutons the Galatian race being the only
one which has been addressed in any Epistle as a race. The Eomans
were a mixed multitude of nationalities. But everything of real evidence,
and of reasonable divination, attainable through language, institutions,
manners, and temperament all so strangely marked in the Epistle to the
Galatians ; and relative indications of ancient history " point to the con-
clusion that Paul's Galatians were purely Celtic in blood as well as in
name."
The following quotation will give the reader a fair idea of the learned
and interesting nature of this work :
The name of Galatians (Galatae), of which Celts (Keltac) was a more ancient form
applied to all of Gaulish blood, has somewhat puzzled critics ignorant of Celtic language.
" Why," they perplexedly ask, "not say Gauls (ffalli), not Galatians?" Galatia (Gael-
dachd) is the only name known by a Scotch Highlander for his own "land of the Gauls"
(Gaels) ; while for Scotland at large he has no name but Albania (Albanachd), from
Albion (which he calls Alba), the ancient name of Britain. Galatia (Gaeldachd, as if
Gaeldom) is simply the Gaul country, domain or land of the Gaels ; and Galatae, or
Celtae, the people of that land, is a secondary formation, by foreigners, from this name
of the land. Observe that there never has been a king " of Scotland," nor emperor " of
France." It is " of Scots," " of the French" the people giving their own name to the
land. Jerome, who had dwelt among European Gauls in his youth, and afterwards
visited Asiatic Galatia, says that the original word Gaul itself was understood to be des-
criptive of fairness or blondness, characteristic of the Gauls in respect of skin and hair.
This suggests geal (" white," whence yealach, " the white one," or " fair one," as proper
name of the moon) ; and this geal, which is nearly the same in sound, is probably asso-
ciated etymologically with the Teutonic gclb (pronounced "yelb," and anciently "yelv,"
whence our " yellow "). Jerome's etymological suggestion may tiius be well-foundtd.
Gaul, or Gael, may originally have meant the "white" or "blond:" Albion (near in
form to yelb) has long been understood to mean " the white land."
The movement of Celts into Asia, about 280 B.C., was a sort of backward eddy of
that great wave of Celtic migration which, after oveispreading Gaul proper, had over-
flowed the Alps and the Pyrenees (witness Gallia Cisalpina and Spanish Cdtiberia), had
travelled south and east along the course of the Danube, and ravaged Northern Greece
in a raid made ever memorable by the pillaging of Delphi. Those Gauls who then crossed
into Asia, at first mere roving invaders, soon became mercenary soldiers, and by and bye
settled down into a district allotted to them, there are "soldiers' settlements " near
Callander, which is described a "bounded by Faphlagonia, Cappadocia, Pontus, andBi-
thynia, and having as its chief cities Ancyra, Pessinus, and Tavium." It will be seen on
the map that this district is a high land, embracing the head waters of the great streams
of Asia Minor. Secure in their mountain fastnesses, the new-comers were troublesome
neighbours, occasionally making forays far into the surrounding lowlands. Though tri-
butary to local monarchs, they retained a certain rude freedom under their own chief-
tains, with a constitution not unlike that of Swiss Cantons under the Hapsburgs. When
overcome by the Romans, 189 B.C., they had far degenerated from that valour, and soft-
ened from that fierceness, which at one time had made them the terror of Upper Asia.
But even after they became a .Roman province, 26 B.C., they retained their Celtic tongue,
with features of character markedly Celtic.
Though addressed by Paul in a Greek Epistle, they may have been preached to only
280 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
in Celtic even by Paul. All over the civilized world knowledge of Greek was then, far
more thai, knowledge of French is now in Europe, an accomplishment of a gentleman ;
BO that the leading men in the Galatian churches would be able to understand a Greek
letter, as leading men in the Outer Hebrides can understand an English letter, such as
may be sent to the churches of Long Island by the General Assembly. But no minister
who can speak Gaelic will think of preaching there in anything but Gaelic, the language
of the people, which alone they can take in with ease and pleasure. Now we are in-
formed by Jerome that the Galatians spake their own original tongue when he visited
them, four hundred years after they had listened to Paul. (The second of his prefaces
to his Commentary on Gal.)
Ireuaeus, in the preface to his great work on Heresies, apologises for the rustiness of
his Greek on the ground that he has long been in familiar use only of the language of the
Celts. Greek must, have been well known to many inhabitants of his district, whose
chief city, Marseilles, was reckoned almost a Greek city, and Latin to many more, wit-
ness the very name of the district, Provincia (Provence). But Celtic was the common
language of the people there. It is the plan of Providence for the diffusion of the gospel
thtt the peoples should everywhere, so far as practicable, hear in "their own" respect-
ive "tongues the great things of God." A people's " own tongue," the mother tongue,
the language of home, fragrant with memories of home and of childhood with its won-
dering delights, has for the purposes of popular instruction and impression an inimitable
power ; especially when that tonue like Greek, Hebrew, Gorman, Celtic is one of
those original or uncompounded tongues in which almost every word has a picture for
the imagination and a song for the heart. Hence Irenaeus, learned Oriental though he
was, in his pastoral labours would use only the language of the Celts. Hence our mis-
sionaries labour to attain free use of the mother tongues of heathenism. Hence the
Pentecostal effusion, of preparation for the grand campaign, was characterised by a
miraculous gift of tongues. And there seems no good reason to regard as chimerical the
suggestion that Paul for preaching purposes may hare used the gift in Galatia.
Professor Macgrogor concludes this part of his Introduction thus :
Unauthentic history, or vague unaccredited tradition, may suggest the not unplea-
sing thought that the Galatian church, though disappearing from the records of the new
kingdom, may have contributed to its progress. That progress was markedly rapid and
great among Celts. Irenaeus, in a letter to the churches of Smyrna and Asia generally,
about a persecution of the Celtic church of Lyons and Vienne, circa A.D. 171, describes
a state of things implying that Christianity must then have been r&oted in that district
for some time. Not long after, Teitullian boasts that in (then Celtic) Britain Christ
has gone with His gospel farther than the Romans have been able to penetrate with tire
and sword. This places a widespread Celtic Christianity within a lifetime of the apos-
tles : Irenaeus was a pupil of Polycarp of Smyrna, who had sat at the feet of John the
Divine. The Celtic churches (e.g. of the Scottish Culdees) long continued to retain some
traces of Orientalism of oiigin, pointing towards Asia Minor as the source of Celtic
evangelization. And the heart as well as the imagination is gratified by the suggestion
thus arising, that the Galatian churches may have sent the gospel to the Celts of Europe.
"We learn from Jerome that in his day their spoken language was in substance what was
spoken by the Treviri European Celts of Trdves. There is a vague tradition about a
mysterious visitor who came to Britain with the gospel, round by the Straits of Gibraltar
from the Mediterranean Sea. May not this mysterious visitor have been a Christian of
Galatia, perhaps a convert of Paul and a student of this Epistle, who, driven by perse-
cution or constrained by love of Christ, bore the gospel from a Celtic land near the
cradle of mankind, and preached it in the mother-tongue to that Britain which was the
then recognised motherland of the Celts ?
The book is neatly got up in every respect, and, as already said, emi-
nently suited for the purpose for which it is intended.
McCHEYNE IN GAELIC. We understand that the Eev. Allan
Sinclair, Keumore, is preparing for the press the Sixth Thousand of his
Gaelic Edition of M'Cheyne.
THE
No. XLIV. JUNE, 1879. - VOL. IV.
HIGHLAND AND ISLAND SCENEEY.
BY THE KEY. ALEX. MACGBEGOR, M.A.
II.
WHILE most of the parishes in Skye have natural curiosities peculiar to
themselves, Kilmuir in the north end has its own. The island at large
has deservedly attracted the attention, not only of those who diligently
pry into the "arcana" of science, but also of such tourists as delight in
the contemplation of nature's rudest and most romantic forms. Here are
presented to the stranger's view a variety of most magnificent points of
original beauty. Its lofty hills of rugged outline, covered in part with
blooming heath, and in part denuded of all their verdure by the chilling
blasts of winter, display in their formation a grandeur of figure and form,
which seldom can find a parallel anywhere. In one place the foaming
cataract precipitously rushes over the shelving rocks, and presents a grand
and pleasing contrast to the gentle rivulet that quietly pursues its course
in the valley below. In another, the lofty mountains rear their towering
pinnacles into the clouds, and from their immense altitudes, are seen at
great distances. Here and there valleys are found interspersed with sheets
of water, or little lakes, which beautifully reflect the ragged images of the
impending cliffs. This is truly the " land of mountain and lake ;" yea, it
is, as the poet says :
The land where the cloud loves to rest,
Like the shroud of the dead, on the mountain's cold breast ;
Where the wood girded rocks to the eagles reply,
And the lake her lone bosom expands to the sky !
There are many scenes in the Isle of Skye which merit particular notice,
but of all
In the Hebride Isles,
Placed far amid the melancholy main
There are none that can exceed Quiraing in the north end of the Island,
as to its particular features. My own humble description of it in the
" New Statistical Account of Scotland," written about 40 years ago, was
the first notice that called the attention of tourists to its romantic beauties.
It is indeed a remarkable formation of nature, and evidently the result of
282 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
some primaeval volcanic eruption. It consists of a secluded piece of level
and fertile ground, concealed in the face of an almost inaccessible preci-
pice. The hill in which it is situated is about 1000 feet in height, and
slopes by a steep declivity towards the west ; but towards the north-east
it presents a face of rugged precipices, much variegated, by being here
and there composed of huge basaltic columns, or massy fragments of fluted
rocks. In other parts larger spaces formed into concave sections, present
themselves to the view, and have a majestic appearance from being ribbed
transversely either by small fissures, or protuberant seams over which a
little rividet drizzles in the moist seasons of the year. In the face of this
huge precipice, Quiraing is enshrined and entirely hidden from the
view of the visitor. He may be told that it is there, but without a guide
he might fail to discover it. This interesting spot consists of a green plot
of ground, as level as a bowling-green, formed into an oblong platform of
sufficient extent to contain six or seven regiments of soldiers. It is
studded all round with massive fragments of rock, jutting up into lofty
peaks, by the intervention of deep chasms, which are, for the most part,
inaccessible. Oil approaching the great inlet to the eagerly looked-for
platform, the passage is much obstructed by heaps of stone and rubbish
which have been washed down from the crevices by the gradual waste of
successive ages. When these obstacles are overcome, the visitor finds
himself at the entrance of a steep passage, which would seem to lead him
to the top of a hill To the right of this entrance stands an isolated pyra-
mid of rock, called the " Needle," which rises perpendicularly to some
hundred feet in height. By considerable exertion the tourist gains
the top of the pass, and beholds with indescribable wonder the scene
which opens to his view. Instead of seeing, as he would expect, some
narrow cave, he beholds, with pleasing disappointment, a spacious opening
before him, in the centre of which stands the already-mentioned platform.
By descending a short distance and threading his way by a small path,
he is instantly led to the beautiful green plain, which was all along his
object to attain. He now stands utterly bewildered, and quite at a loss
what to examine first, or to admire most. He beholds the rocks frowning
aloft, and the rugged cliffs ranging themselves in huge circles around him.
Rocky pyramids like a bulwark encompass the fairy plain on which he
stands. All is felt to be a dreary solitude, yet there is a pleasing beauty
in the silent repose. The golden eagle is seen soaring aloft in the blue
firmament. A panoramic view of the distant sea and district below, is
visible only in detached fragments through the rugged clefts and chasms
between the surrounding pyramids. The rocks which compose these huge
columns are so streaked and variegated, that the visitor's imagination can-
not fail to delineate hundreds of grotesque figures of the wildest description
on their surface. The nature of the day on which this interesting place
is visited has a great effect on its appearance. It is so studded and en-
compassed with columns and pinnacles of all heights, sizes, and figures,
that their flickering shadows on a sunshiny day have an enchanting
effect on all who behold them. Light and shade are then so uncommonly
divided, and so constantly changing positions, that the place in conse-
quence is greatly enhanced in beauty ; but should a dense mist envelope
the spot, as is frequently the case, the scene is greatly changed. Instead
THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 283
of being lovely and enchanting, a night-like gloom falls over it, like a
shroud of darkness. The thick mist slowly floating through the pyramids,
and intercepting their rugged pinnacles from the view, give a sombre ap-
pearance to t